Poor cashew, mango yields loom for Canacona farmers

Canacona: Farmers in Canacona are bracing for a difficult season as their cashew and mango yield is expected to drop by 30% with the harvest getting delayed by more than a month due to changing climatic conditions.

Zonal agriculture officer Mahendra Pagi said due to adverse effects of unseasonal rains and delay in flowering and fruiting process leads to decline in yield. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can negatively impact pollination, affecting fruit set. Besides, increased pest infestation and disrupted flowering pattern also affects the yield.

Alphonso variety of mango is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its sensitive flowering phase, Pagi added.

A group of farmers from Cotigao said that some of them have created moisture on the plants encouraging the growth of pathogens and pests like thrips. Bombo Gaonkar said, “Every year, we would have already been preparing for extraction of urrak, but due to the delayed development of cashew apples, we are unable to begin our usual preparations.”

Suresh Velip, another farmer, said that the cold conditions and dew have damaged mango and cashew pollination.


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