Pune : Early Arrival of Mango Season in Maharashtra Leads to Surplus and Drop in Prices

The mango season in Maharashtra has begun ahead of schedule. This is said to be due to a surprising abundance of fruit in the Konkan orchards. 

This unexpected flush has resulted in a drop in prices for Hapus mangoes, as more arrivals flood the markets from both Karnataka and Maharashtra. 

Currently a dozen mangoes are currently fetching around Rs 800-1,000, which is considered average.

Despite initial concerns about December rains affecting the season, farmers were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected abundance of fruit, leading to early fruit formation. The market sees Sindhudurg Hapus arriving first, followed by Ratnagiri and Raigad varieties.

The sudden increase in mango arrivals can be attributed to a good season in Karnataka, coupled with farmers’ fear-driven early harvesting to secure better prices. As a result, prices have dipped significantly, with Karnataka mangoes selling for Rs 200-300 per dozen in Pune’s wholesale market. Other varieties like Lalbaugh and Payari have also experienced price decreases.

According to Mandar Desai, owner of Desai Bandhu Ambewale, ” There has been a surplus of mangoes now due to the climate becoming humid sooner than earlier. This has led to the mangoes’ coming supply. The mangoes which were available at 2000-2500rs last year have now been dropped to Rs 900-1500rs per dozen. This year there has been a surplus of 80% whereas last year it was just 40%. However, in the second slot which starts on April 10, the supply is expected to be reduced.”

He further said that this has caused grivicence amongst farmers as the transportation cost has increased.  While current prices are considered fair, they are lower than the usual rates for March-end. With expectations of a bountiful harvest, farmers anticipate further price drops in the days to come. Overall, the early start to the mango season has led to a surplus, resulting in lower prices across the market.

Manasi Patil