Team Herald
PONDA: It is time to feast on your favourite mangoes as the final harvest of Goan Mankuraad mango hit the market in large quantities. As a result, the prices of all other mangoes have dropped below the Mankurad variety, which is a benchmark.
Earlier, for over a month, due to low production, the Mankurad was sold at Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,500 per dozen, depending upon its quality. However, since the past few days, the prices of Mankurad have fallen drastically and later touched Rs 750 and now good quality Goan Mankurad mangoes are available even for Rs 500 per dozen.
The Agriculture Official said, “The unprecedented rise in temperature in March for few days has affected pollination of mango blossoms, which had delayed their arrival in the market. Almost one month had passed but Goa’s Mankurad variety was in short supply in the market at high rates due to delay in production since the past one month. The aam admi was struggling to buy the various varieties of mangoes including imported from other States as they were too sold at high prices because of high prices of Mankurad. But things have changed for mango lovers after the final harvesting of king Mankurad.”
Since Goan Mankurad mangos were selling at high prices, the other mango varieties such as Hapus from Maharashtra were also fetching good rates. But with the arrival of the final harvest of Mankurad the prices of not only Mankurad fell to Rs 500 per dozen but also other varieties of mangoes are sold below the rates of Mankurad so that the aam admi can a feast on the seasonal fruit.
Mahesh Naik, who is involved in wholesale buying and selling of Mankurad mangoes said, “The high temperature hit the mango crop and delayed the Mankurad season.”
Meanwhile, with some apprehension that there is chemical ripening of mangoes, some people in Ponda have started buying fresh seasoned Mankurad mangoes which are being plucked from tree and prefer to ripen them at home.