Bihar: Growers worried as sales of Jardalu mangoes dip by 50%

BHAGALPUR: With a 50% reduction in yield and sale of Jardalu and other varieties of mangoes due to the Covid-19 lockdown as well as pest and fungus attack, the growers in Bhagalpur district and parts of Banka are a worried lot. Fall in the quality of mangoes due to untimely showers this year is also a matter of concern.

According to agriculture department sources, the sale of mangoes in Bhagalpur has dipped from 2.5 lakh tonnes in 2019 to 1.25-1.5 lakh tonnes this year.

“Since the mangoes had been lying on trees or in warehouses over the last four months due to the lockdown, they were attacked by fungi and pests,” claimed Ashok Choudhary, a horticulturist also known as Bihar’s ‘Mango Man’ for developing more than 100 varieties of the fruit at his farm in Maheshi-Tilakpur village under Sultanganj block of Bhagalpur.

He added, “The growers and owners of mango orchards were unable to spray pesticides and fungicides on the ‘manjars’ (mango buds) and trees after one round because of the lockdown.”

Choudhary also urged the agriculture department and Bihar Agricultural University to take up the issue of red-banded mango caterpillar and fungus attack and different ways to protect the fruits.

Jardalu mangoes fetched the geographical indication (GI) tag in 2018 due to their exceptional quality.

They are also sent as gifts to dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, President, Vice-president, Lok Sabha Speaker and chief ministers, by the Bihar government every year.

Vikash Kumar, assistant director of horticulture, department of agriculture, pointed out that vagaries of nature and untimely rainfall led to fungus and pest attack on mangoes.

“There was a 40%-50% fall in the production of Jardalu and other varieties of mangoes this year. However, the state government supported the growers through online sales,” Vikash said.