Unexpected Entry of Kesar Mangoes in March Disrupts Traditional Mango Season, Offering Consumers a New Choice
Pune, 1st April 2024: Mango enthusiasts in Pune are in for a surprise this season as Kesar mangoes have made an early appearance in the market, diverging from the usual mango season timeline. Typically awaited towards late April or early May, Kesar mangoes have arrived in March this year, promising abundant availability starting from the first week of April.
Pansare, a prominent fruit trader at the Vashi Agricultural Produce Market Committee, revealed that Kesar mangoes sourced from regions like Sangola, Dharashiv, Marathwada, and Khandesh have already flooded the markets of Mumbai and Pune. Priced between Rs 150 to 170 per kilogram, Kesar mangoes began appearing in retail quantities towards the end of March, marking a significant deviation from the usual seasonal pattern.
This year’s mango season witnessed a unique phenomenon as saffron mangoes underwent four to five stages of blooming, showcasing a diverse array of mangoes on a single tree. The mango harvesting process kicked off from the first phase on March 15th.
Dr. Bhagwanrao Kapse, president of Mahakeshar Mango Bagayatdar Sangh, projected that Kesar mangoes would grace the market until the end of June.
Despite extensive cultivation across approximately 53,000 hectares in the state, excluding Konkan, only a fraction of this area boasts fruit-bearing trees, estimated at around fifteen thousand hectares. The remaining orchards either receive subsidies or suffer from neglect, leading to reduced production levels this year.
Traditionally, Hapus mangoes dominate the market from March until late April. However, the early arrival of Kesar mangoes in April presents a new challenge to Hapus’ reign. Consumers now have the option to choose between the two varieties, with Kesar mangoes priced at Rs 150 to 170 per kilogram, while Hapus fetches between Rs 800 to 1500 per dozen.
Despite the excitement surrounding the early availability of mangoes, concerns loom over potential challenges such as natural calamities including summer heat, storms, unseasonal rains, and hailstorms, which could significantly impact the final yield. Dr. Kapse emphasized the uncertainty surrounding mango availability amidst such unpredictable weather conditions.
