Bloom to bust: Belagavi’s mango dreams fade after flower drop

Belagavi: Mango orchards across Belagavi district saw extensive flowering this season, but growers' hopes of a bumper harvest have dimmed after a large share of the blossoms withered over the past month. Mango is cultivated on about 3,100 hectares in the district, with the Alphonso variety accounting for nearly 85–90% of the area. Officials said that based on the current fruit set, only 40–50% of the flowers are expected to mature into fruit.Despite the setback, Belagavi mangoes remain in strong demand in local markets and in neighbouring Goa and Maharashtra. Traders say business will pick up if weather conditions remain favourable in the coming weeks.A variety of mangoes—including Alphonso, Kesar, Mallika, Ratnagiri, Totapuri and Neelam—are grown across Belagavi district. The area under cultivation has expanded in the Khanapur, Channamma Kittur, Bailhongal, Belagavi, and Savadatti taluks. Khanapur taluk leads with 1,400 hectares under mango cultivation, followed by Channamma Kittur (875 hectares), Belagavi (414 hectares), Bailhongal and Savadatti (80 hectares each), and Athani (65 hectares). Mudalagi has only three hectares of cultivation. Alphonso accounts for 85–90% of the produce in the Belagavi area.Rajesh Savalekar, a progressive farmer from Khanapur, said poor pollination due to low temperatures in Dec and Jan affected the initial fruit set. Later, unseasonal fog and drizzle over the last 15–20 days caused large-scale flower drop, further reducing the prospects of a good yield. He said the remaining flowers of Kesar and Neelam varieties may still produce up to 50% of the expected yield.Ajit Shirgapur, a farmer from Kittur, said unseasonal rains and persistent fog have caused widespread flower shedding, disappointing farmers who were expecting an exceptional crop. "This year, the trees bloomed beyond expectations, but adverse weather dashed our hopes," he said.Farmers now estimate that less than half the trees have set fruit, making a bumper harvest unlikely.Mahantesh Murgod, deputy director of the horticulture department, said cloudy, moist or rainy weather increases flower drop and reduces yield potential. If conditions improve, some recovery may be possible. He emphasised the need for pest and disease control measures, along with proper nutrient management, to ensure good-quality fruit.Flower drop due to untimely fog and rain has hit Alphonso trees the hardest, while other varieties may still yield around 40–50%.