Unseasonal rainfall may delay mango, cashew production

PANAJI: Owing to

unseasonal rainfall

over the last weekend, the

mango

and

cashew

crop flowering process seems to have been affected showing possibility of a delayed fruiting season for either of the crops.

“There will be some impact of the sudden rain and change in temperatures over the flowering process of the crops. The mango and cashew season may get slightly delayed to some extent this year, as a result,” said agriculture director, Nevil Alfonso.

He, however, maintained that the rainfall has not been continuous so as to cause serious damage to the crops.

“The impact will not be very significant since it was only a short spell of rain. Had there been continuous rainfall, there would have been more impact,” he added.

TOI had reported on Monday that short spells of light rain were experienced across Goa on Sunday owing to a trough like feature that occurred.

With this rain, the possibility of increase incidence of hoppers is likely in the mango crop, while tea mosquito bugs are likely to effect the cashew crop.

The two cash crops are already facing a late flowering season since it was delayed due to unseasonal rain this month. Consistent incidents of fog in the mornings for a prolonged period were also speculated to affect the cashew and mango fruit setting process.

“Currently, there is a contrasting difference between the day and night temperatures wherein there is sudden exposure to heat in the day and cold at night. The cashew and mango flowers have been undergoing these extreme exposures leading to some of them drying. However, the sudden rain could further delay the fruition process,” a farmer from

Sattari

said.

As a result, both the fruits will flower but its fruition may be delayed beyond the regular time which may affect production.


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