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Konkan Mango Crisis: Climate Change Threatens Livelihoods
26 Apr
Summary
- Climate change and faulty practices are decimating Alphonso mango crops.
- Farmers face drastic yield reductions, impacting processors and transporters.
- The region's economy, once reliant on labor export, is now imperiled.
The Konkan region's economy, historically transformed by Alphonso mango cultivation, now faces an unprecedented crisis due to climate change and agricultural challenges. Farmers across Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are experiencing devastating crop losses. Many report yields as low as 10-20% of normal, with some trees producing merely 200 boxes instead of thousands.
These losses ripple through the local economy, affecting mango processing, transport, and even labor availability, as workers have been let go. Processors are struggling to source raw materials, and transport margins are shrinking due to reduced cargo. The disruption also affects related businesses like pesticide sales, with fears of farmer defaults looming.
Farmers attribute the failures to erratic weather, including unseasonably high temperatures affecting flowering and fruiting, and inactive pollinators. Some also point to broader environmental issues like primate attacks and pollution from industrial projects. The crisis highlights a need for agricultural research and diversification to secure the region's future.
