More than one-fourth of the mango crop has got ruined after storm
Sudden change of weather affects crops in #Kanpur. Farmers say 'After yesterday's dust storm, more than one-fourth of the mango crop has got ruined.'
The mango crop has suffered a loss of 20% to 25% due to high speed storms that had hit several districts. Unripe mangoes in many orchards fell due to the high winds which blew at the speed of 100 km/hour and 70 km/hour respectively.
The rain and thunderstorm, had hit the mango belts in Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Safipur and Kanpur. Apart from mango crop, other crops also got damaged by the unexpected weather change.
"We did not anticipate such a huge loss of mango crop, but around 30% of the crop got destroyed in the storm. This year the crop was comparatively better as compared to the last three years. We are helpless because it was the Almighty's wish. We have suffered a great loss", said Shaharyar Zuber, a mango grower in Kanpur.
The crop was almost a week away from getting ripe. The unripe fruit which had fallen will not get a good price in the market, he added. However, despite such a heavy loss, most experts are of the view that mango growers would not get higher prices because this year the productivity is high.
"Fortunately, this year the crop is bumper. Despite the losses, the industry will be able to sustain itself. People are afraid that prices of mango will be quite high but the situation is not so worse", said Sunil Kumar, a stockist at Kidwai Nagar fruit market.
Agro meteorologist of CSA University Anirudh Dubey informed that the high velocity winds during the storm had shed unripe fruit from the trees. The estimated loss of the mango crop may reach upto 25%. "In neighbouring areas of the industrial city like Safipur and Unnao, Dussehri mango crop has suffered the most", he added.
-PTC News
