India: Mango output to see 14% rise this year; heat wave unlikely to impact yields

New Delhi: India's overall mango production may increase by about 14 per cent to 24 million tonnes this year, ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture Director T Damodaran said on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department's forecast of a heat wave in April-May period may not have a significant impact on the mango yield, provided farmers take care of irrigation during May to reduce excessive fruit dropping, he said. In its latest summer forecast, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted harsher spells of heat waves that could last between 10-20 days instead of the usual two to four days. Above normal heatwave days are likely to occur over most parts of the south peninsula, central India, east India and plains of northwest India. "The mango flowering process is a crucial part of the fruit setting process. Thanks to conducive weather, mango flowering is almost over. The pollination is normal and fruit setting has begun. Normal heat waves may not impact ...