The Glut Rut

Unlike the apple farmers, mangrove owners in Uttar Pradesh are facing a problem of plenty with a bumper crop driving prices down. But that's not just because of a glut. Says R.K. Tomar, a senior scientist at the Mango Research Institute in Malihabad, UP, "The quality of the mangoes this year has been very poor." He attributes this to the lack of nutrition provided to the trees. "Once these trees are heavily loaded (with fruit), they require excess nutrition. The farmers here have practically no knowledge of this." The institute has decided to go in for field demonstrations in the next flowering season. "For if this continues, the day is not far when mango farmers will fail to give fruit of good quality," justifies Tomar.

But the problem for growers isn't quality but quantity. Says Mohammad Suleiman, who has 18 hectares of prime mango land in Rahimabad, "When we sold our crop in end-April, it was at at least 50 per cent below the normal rate."

It's been a bitter harvest for the growers of this sweet fruit. The only bright spot for them has been the maiden export of four tonnes of Dussehris to Europe. Perhaps that's the way of the future: if there's a glut, ship it out.