Heavy Rains Likely To Hit Custard Apple Production In Maharashtra

Heavy rains in Maharashtra in July have severely impacted custard apple production, leading to a 30% decline in yield. The rains coincided with the blooming period, causing excessive water accumulation and flower drop.

Custard apples are a significant crop in Maharashtra, cultivated across the state except in Konkan. Pune, Solapur, and Nagar districts lead the production, with the crop grown on approximately 1 lakh hectares. Additional 1 lakh hectares of forest and riverbank trees also produce custard apples.

The summer-blooming custard apples are currently available in the market, but their supply will dwindle by September 15. The Mrig Bahar variety, which blooms in July, will start arriving in markets by December. However, the continuous rains in July resulted in water accumulation, causing flowers to drop and reducing fruit set.

“The production is estimated to decrease by about 30 percent,” said Shyam Gattani, president of the Maharashtra State Sitaphal Sangh. “However, the fruits are of good quality.” Despite the reduced yield, the fruit size has increased due to adequate water supply.

Maharashtra has around 80 custard apple processing industries, which utilize small-sized, ripe fruits. The pulp is stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius for use in kulfi, ice cream, and rubdi. However, Gattani emphasized that despite strong demand, the processing industry’s scope has not expanded.

Farmers are likely to feel the pinch, with reduced production and lower prices. “Farmers should receive at least Rs 30-35 per kg to cover production costs,” Gattani said to Loksatta. Currently, custard apples are priced between Rs 25-35 per kg for processing, while large fruits fetch Rs 70-100 in the market.

The reduced production and quality fruits may impact prices and farmer incomes. As the situation unfolds, farmers and stakeholders await government support and market interventions to mitigate the losses.

Care

Bairagi art gub