March 12, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1429

MULTAN, March 11: As inflorescence of mango trees has started, experts are apprehending a 0.5 million tons shortfall in mango production this year.

A cold spell had devastated mango cultivation on a large scale between December and January.

Horticulture experts feared that mango production may come down to 1.2 million tons this year as compared to last year’s 1.7 million tons.

Pakistan Mango Growers Association President Syed Zahid Hussain Gerdezi said between 60 and 70 per cent of mango orchards had been affected by the clod spell and there was a genuine concern among growers about loss of average fruit production.

He said that there was a need to compensate mango growers in view of losses to them.

He also demanded that the agriculture income tax levied on orchards be condoned for two years, along with water taxes and land revenue while the effected growers be given interest-free loans of shorter durations so that they can curtail further damage to their orchards.

Khawja Mohammad Shoaib of the Farmers Vision Forum stated that March is an important month for growers when mango crop assumes flowering.

He said that climate puts various kinds of effects on mango crop during the flowering stage.

If the weather is wet, chances of attack by ‘powdery milduv’ increase which can damage crop on a large scale, and if weather is dry, there is a possibility of attack by ‘anthrax nose’. However, as compared to powdery milduv, the damage by ‘anthrax nose’ occurs on a small scale.

He said with the spray on proper time, mango growers can prevent both the diseases.

He said that the season of inflorescence of mango trees starts in March, but the tree that did not bear inflorescence last year yields inflorescence earlier.

He said that farmers can overcome losses by adopting necessary measures, especially by spraying on their crops on proper time.

In his survey, he has found 15 to 20 per cent damage to mango trees due to the clod spell.

“Although I think that the country can face a decrease in mango production, but it will not be on a large scale,” he said.