No bloom means gloom for mango growers
The flowering usually occurs in December last week or January first week. However, the phenomenon has not occurred this year even in February. The grower have invested heavily on the fertiliser for the purpose, but the trees are yet to flower.
According to the experts in the horticultural department, excess moisture in the soil has slowed flowering. Added is the unseasonal rain which prevented enough sunlight for the trees as a result the soil continues to retain its moisture.
However, the younger trees provided with irrigation have blossomed well, while the those grown up have failed to flower, causing serious concern for the orchard owners and those who lease the mature trees.
Grower N Sri Rama Reddy of Maniganahalli says production highs and lows in alternate years is common. But till now, none of the varieties of mango trees have blossomed. This will affect the mango output, he added. The region is famed for its mango crop.
The mangroves at Srinivaspur, Mulbagal and some other parts of Kolar and Chickballapur districts are well known for mango cultivation. Srinivaspur, is considered as the “mango bowl” of Karnataka.
Mangoes are the major source of income for farmers here But the slow flowering has left the farmers in lurch. However the farmers are hoping for something to happen so that they can reach at least a break-even point.