Winds, drizzle damage mango orchards in Amroha, Bijnor; farmers fear losses

Bijnor: Mango crops in Amroha and neighbouring Bijnor districts were damaged by strong winds on Friday night followed by light drizzle on Saturday, leaving orchard owners worried about losses this season.Several orchards reported that mango inflorescence fell from trees due to the sudden change in weather. Farmers said unfavourable climatic conditions and environmental factors had already affected fruit development this year, making the situation more challenging.Orchard owner Harsh Yadav from Amroha said continuous weather fluctuations have reduced fruit formation, raising concerns over a decline in production. He added that lower yield could push up mango prices in the market.Another grower, Deepu, said adequate fruit quantity is important to maintain quality. With fewer fruits on trees, quality is also likely to be affected.Raghav, another orchard owner, said that despite spraying fungicides and insecticides, the expected fruit growth from blossom has not been achieved. Farmers fear that if such weather continues, it could impact both production and profits.In Bijnor, mango groves are spread over 13,310 hectares across areas such as Mandawar, Kiratpur, Bijnor and Najibabad. The storm uprooted some trees and damaged crops, with blossoms falling to the ground. The district grows varieties such as Dasheri, Chaunsa, Langda, Ratole and Bombay Green. Mangoes from Bijnor are supplied to Delhi, Uttarakhand, Mumbai, Kolkata and Jaipur. Production in the district is over 1.5 lakh metric tonnes.In Amroha, mango cultivation covers 18,000–20,000 hectares, with an annual production of around 3.5–4 lakh metric tonnes. Common varieties include Dasheri, Langra and Chausa.Agriculture scientist Dr KK Singh of Nagina research centre said inclement weather leads to loss of mango blossoms and may also expose the crop to diseases. He added that it is too early to assess the overall loss.