COMPLETE destruction of mango orchards in Shujabad and Kabirwala and partial in other parts of Punjab brought about by the torrential rains and followed by hailstorms may substantially lower the crop yield . Multan, Bhawalpur and the D.G. Khan are main mango growing areas of Punjab and are facing unusual rains during the most sensitive period of flowering. It is feared that this would significantly reduce mango production.

Three kinds of fungal diseases namely powdery mildew, blossom blight and anthracnose have threatened the crop with their attacks rising daily. Punjab may be unable to produce mango crop equivalent to last year’s. It is also feared that Pakistan may lose its ranking in the world producers’ list, besides increasing prices of the produce within the country.

The period from mid-February to mid-March is of critical importance for mango crop as it is the period when trees bear flowers. Moderate weather is conducive during this time. However, this year the weather turned cold and humid which is favourable for the spread of disease. The trees subsequently failed to produce optimum flowering density.

Mango is an important cash crop and Pakistan stands 5th in the world producer list. Punjab’s share in production is 90 per cent of the country’s total output. It produced over 1.31 million tons from 0.248 million acres of land in the last season. Multan, Bahawalpur and the D.G. Khan are main areas with crops of 0.417 tons, 0.408 million tons and the last 0.220 million tons.

According to reports, the farmers in Multan, Muzaffargarh and the D.G. Khan, so far, have sprayed their orchards with pesticides six times as against three in the entire season. Despite six sprays, the disease is getting out of control due to continuous rains. The pesticides need at least 12 hours to become effective but the rains wash it away. Excessive spray hikes the production cost and an increased cost and short supply of mango are likely to push the prices up.

The Agriculture Research Wing, it is proposed, should take up the matter seriously and assist in combating the disease attacks. Otherwise, growers will be forced to cut down mango trees as has happened in the past when thousands of trees were chopped due to the attack of a disease called ‘Quick Decline” which dried up the plants and the growers came to know when the last stage of prevention had passed.

The researchers should focus on the development of disease resistant varieties using germplasm of vast genetic base. It should not be like the previous experiment when not a single variety of mango was resistant to Quick Decline. Moreover, the varieties should be evolved keeping in view the weather changes.

There should be specific cultivar for a specified agro-ecological zone and the growers be made to grow the recommended variety. For instance, Quick Decline disease was more devastating for canal-irrigated orchids but what was the cause of the prevalence of disease in the irrigated orchids is still not identified.

Researchers should disseminate information about three fungal diseases to farmers enabling them to combat the menace as effectively as possible. Disease control is effective at early stage of attack which can be judged through the examination of orchids. Three diseases are appearing in every nook and corner in Punjab where mango is being grown. Researchers should recommend effective pesticides to reduce the number of sprays which is a burden on low-income households.

There is a need to establish more mango research stations with diagnostic laboratories in major growing areas to conduct research on urgent basis for the prevention of incidence of crop losses due to calamities. The objective to introduce high yielding varieties, resistant to insect/pest and disease attack with broad genetic base should be given priority.

The need of introducing modern trends in cultivation has been felt at the national level. Its cultivation should be adopted as a profit-generating commercial enterprise.

Mango orchards are facing serious challenges in management which promoted malformation, alternate bearing, unreliable fruit setting, poor cropping and insect/pest attack and disease infestation.

Proper handling of the produce is essential to avoid post-harvest losses because the produce cannot be stored for long period due to its perishable nature. It is, therefore, imperative to provide airfreight facilities to upgrade the handling.