Chhattisgarh’s mango growers have started focussing on cultivating mango varieties generally grown in other States. The popular mango varieties of various States are now grown at a local level in the State.
“The entire State is divided in northern hills, north, south and plains are suitable for growing any mango variety. Farmers are taking interest in growing Maharashtra’s Alphonso mango, Uttar Pradesh’s Dasheri and langra, West Bengal’s Himsagar and Krishna Bhog as well as Andhra Pradesh’s Banganapalle.
In fact, it is gaining the attention of more local farmers at commercial level,” Professor SN Dixit, the Horticulture Department Head of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University (IGAU) told The Pioneer. Since the duration of hot climatic conditions favouring the mango cultivation of every region differs; the process is helping farmers of Chhattisgarh.
“We often wait long for the Dasheri or langra mangoes since the summer season in Uttar Pradesh begin from March,” Dixit said.
Meanwhile, Dr Gl Sharma, another faculty member of the University said, “Mangoes like Kesar, Amrapali and Mallika are also preferred by the farmers for cultivation.”
He further said the present weather is likely to enhance the flowering of these mango crops.
The farmers have been requested to avoid using excess water for mango crop and keep an eye over the attack of insects such as Mango Hopper and Powdery Mildew on these crops. In a notice issued by IGAU’s Department of Agrometeorology on Tuesday, the farmers have been urged to irrigate the 50 percent developed mango flowers.