PATNA: The westerly wind blowing over the state is likely to have adverse impact on mango and litchi crops this summer, aver agriculture scientists and climatologists. The abnormally high temperature, coupled with low humidity, will bring down the yield of both these crops, they fear.
Bihar produces nearly 13 lakh tonnes of mango and 3 lakh tonnes of litchi every year. The state accounts for 70% of the country's annual litchi production and 13% of mango. The major mango growing areas of the state are Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Patna, Madhubani, Sitamarhi and West Champaran districts, while litchi is mainly grown in Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, East and West Champaran and Darbhanga districts.
Says B P Yadav, a retired scientist of the Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa in Samastipur district, "The prevailing heatwave can drastically reduce mango production this year. Temperature above 40 degree Celsius along with low humidity will result in cracking of the fruit. Also, due to less moisture, the size of the fruit may decrease." This will result in inferior quality of fruit with less juice, Yadav said. Lack of summer showers in March and April can also prove detrimental to the mango crop as the farmers of the state do not have adequate irrigation facilities, he added.
Pre-monsoon rainfall is necessary for mango and litchi crops as too much dryness in the air adversely affects their size. High temperature by itself is not so injurious to mango, but in combination with low humidity and high winds, it affects the tree adversely. The major varieties of mango produced in Bihar are Malda, Dudhiya Malda, Bathua, Bombai, Himsagar, Kishen Bhog, Sukul, Gulab Khas, Zardalu, Langra, Chausa, Dashehari, Fazli, Prabha Shankar and Mehmood Bahar.
The year 2012 has been described as an "off year" for mango crop. The crop is binomial in nature, meaning a bumper harvest is generally followed by a poor crop. When asked whether less production of mango would have an effect on its export, Yadav replied, "Certainly, if the productivity falls."
However, when contacted, deputy director (fruit production), state horticulture department, Sarvjeet Kumar said, "Till now no damage has been reported to the mango crop in the state." Patna Met director D C Gupta had earlier said that the intense heatwave could damage mango and litchi crops in the state.
The state is reeling under intense heatwave, with the state capital recording the maximum temperature of 44.4 degree C on Tuesday, the hottest day of this season. On Wednesday too, the temperature recorded was above 44 degree C.
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