Cyclonic fall: Gujarat’s iconic Kesar mango cheaper than potato

“Kudrat Ruthi Gai” (the nature is offended), is the lament of growers of the well known Kesar mango wide range of Gir Somnath and Junagadh districts of Gujarat, soon after Cyclone Tauktae devastated the area very last 7 days.

In the very last couple times, the Talala current market property — the key place for the Kesar mango auctions — in Gir Somnath district acquired almost 1.five lakh packing containers (each of ten kg) of the mango wide range with rates quoted as low as ₹40 for every box.

Which is just ₹4 for every kg. The price tag fell even under the wholesale potato price tag of ₹60 for every ten kg (₹6 for every kg).

Fruit drop

“This is the same wide range of mango that was selling in the array of ₹225-800 for every box just a 7 days back,” rues HH Jarsaniya, Secretary, Talala APMC. He states only five-8 for every cent of the general Kesar mango crop appears to be like intact.

Cyclone Tauktae made the landfall on May possibly seventeen alongside the coast of Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh and Gir Somnath districts with wind speeds of a hundred and sixty-a hundred sixty five kmph gusting up to 190 kmph. This led to the mangoes slipping from the trees.

However, the fallen fruits — thought of damaged due to mud caking and humidity — was largely acquired by bad communities from close by districts. Only about 23,000 packing containers are remaining. “No food stuff processor or retail trader has appear to invest in these damaged fruits. Which is why the rates fell so sharply,” reported Jarsaniya.

Kesar mango is the 2nd-most exported mango wide range soon after Alphonso.

However, exports are down due to the pandemic and logistics constraints throughout countries. Grown generally in the foothills of Girnar mountain in Saurashtra, the iconic Gir Kesar mango, acknowledged for its dazzling orange colour and distinct aroma, was presented a Geographical Indication (GI) in 2011.

Soured season

This 12 months the season commenced on May possibly four with skinny arrivals of about five,600 packing containers a day as towards 8,000-9,000 packing containers very last 12 months.

The season lasts 40-45 times until mid-June. But this 12 months the season has ended abruptly due to the cyclone.

In accordance to the Talala APMC details, very last 12 months almost seven lakh packing containers were traded producing a business of ₹26 crore, whereas this 12 months only three.21 lakh packing containers arrived and business had dropped to ₹7 crore — almost a fourth of very last year’s.