Mango production expected to be more than double of last year. Even the horticulture and agriculture department sources said the state is set for a bumper harvest this season. The fruit has already started appearing in the local market.
Deputy director, horticulture (planning), Pawan Kumar said, Though there was a thunderstorm last week, it did not cause
much damage to the crop, The total target area for
mango cultivation is 38,015 acres under the Bagicha Bachao Abhiyaan
(Save Orchard campaign) launched by CM Nitish Kumar in May, 2012. Emphasis was laid on adoption of scientific methods in horticultural activities and fruit-bearing trees were cultivated
and grown in accordance with their area-specific quality and value. The
government also gave subsidy to farmers for the tilling and ploughing
of land under orchards. This led to the increase in yield, said Kumar.
'Jardaloo' variety of mango, which is successfully grown in Bhagalpur district, and the 'Dudhiya' variety of 'Malda' mango of Digha in Patna, have been ensured an assured market, added the agriculture official.
District agriculture officer, Patna, Nitesh Kumar Rai also said that in view of widespread flowering and formation of fruits on mango trees in most of the districts like Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Purnia, Araria and Patna, the state is expecting a bumper crop this season provided there is no major thunderstorm.
The year 2012 was an 'off year' for the crop as 2011 was an 'on year'. Therefore, the overall mango yield achieved was less than 10 lakh tonnes. Due to the poor yield, its price was also high last year, say farmers. Moreover, mango is a dry-land crop which can survive without irrigation. It is also drought-resistant (the crop does not require regular watering after the fourth year of the plantation) and despite less rainfall, the yields are high, said a farmer.
Sanjay Jha, another big farmer of Darbhanga, said, "The rates should become steady after initial high and we expect good quality of Malda to sell at Rs 50 to Rs 60/kg."
Malda, Mallika, Jardaloo, Gulabkhas, Bumbai, Daseri, Chausa are major varieties of mango grown in the state. Of these, Malda contributes about 30% of the total production. A Vaishali-based farmer, Dhananjay Sah, who owns a huge orchard near Lalganj, said, "Last year, we had only 55% of the total expected yield, but this time we are expecting at least 80% of the total yield. Nevertheless, the fruit size may be reduced if there is no summer or pre-monsoon showers in April-May. Even the fruit quality may be affected in case of no rain in the crucial months, he said, and added that one or two showers can ensure a quality crop yield."
Interestingly, Bihar ranks third in mango cultivation and covers about 50% of the total fruit area in the state as per National Horticulture Mission (NHM) sources.
'Jardaloo' variety of mango, which is successfully grown in Bhagalpur district, and the 'Dudhiya' variety of 'Malda' mango of Digha in Patna, have been ensured an assured market, added the agriculture official.
District agriculture officer, Patna, Nitesh Kumar Rai also said that in view of widespread flowering and formation of fruits on mango trees in most of the districts like Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Purnia, Araria and Patna, the state is expecting a bumper crop this season provided there is no major thunderstorm.
The year 2012 was an 'off year' for the crop as 2011 was an 'on year'. Therefore, the overall mango yield achieved was less than 10 lakh tonnes. Due to the poor yield, its price was also high last year, say farmers. Moreover, mango is a dry-land crop which can survive without irrigation. It is also drought-resistant (the crop does not require regular watering after the fourth year of the plantation) and despite less rainfall, the yields are high, said a farmer.
Sanjay Jha, another big farmer of Darbhanga, said, "The rates should become steady after initial high and we expect good quality of Malda to sell at Rs 50 to Rs 60/kg."
Malda, Mallika, Jardaloo, Gulabkhas, Bumbai, Daseri, Chausa are major varieties of mango grown in the state. Of these, Malda contributes about 30% of the total production. A Vaishali-based farmer, Dhananjay Sah, who owns a huge orchard near Lalganj, said, "Last year, we had only 55% of the total expected yield, but this time we are expecting at least 80% of the total yield. Nevertheless, the fruit size may be reduced if there is no summer or pre-monsoon showers in April-May. Even the fruit quality may be affected in case of no rain in the crucial months, he said, and added that one or two showers can ensure a quality crop yield."
Interestingly, Bihar ranks third in mango cultivation and covers about 50% of the total fruit area in the state as per National Horticulture Mission (NHM) sources.
source :TNN
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