Rain relief for mango, cashew farmers

Visakhapatnam: Early summer showers over the last one week have brought relief to mango and cashew farmers in the districts of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram, which have been reeling under a long dry spell, threatening to affect the main horticulture crops of the region, mango and cashew.
More than 16,200 hectares of mango and 22,000 hectares of cashew crop in Visakhapatnam district were reeling from the long dry spell, which has lasted for almost nine months since July last year.However, the last one week has brought some relief to farmers, who feared that the tender sprout-fruit would wither if the dry spell continued till summer.
Officials in the horticulture department are optimistic about the crop, though they believe that yields would still be below average, due to poor flowering.
“The rains have come as a relief. However, yield would be not more than 40%, which would roughly translate to 5 tonnes per acre (in the case of mango),” said K Sailaja, deputy director, horticulture, Visakhapatnam district. Regarding cashew and the estimated yield, Sailaja said it would roughly come to 27,000 tonnes, which is the regular average yield.
In Vizianagaram too, the situation looks much better. R Srinivasulu, AD horticulture said, “We have cashew on 16,000 hectares and mango on 40,000 plus hectares. Mango yield has shaped up pretty well and in most areas the fruit has set in and the rains will help increase tonnage. Thanks to summer showers, we expect a full yield of at least 10 tonnes per acre.”
Sources in the department said cashew yield would be normal. ITDA is already registering farmers for the purpose of procurement.