Where have the Goan mangoes gone?

It’s mango season in Goa, but where are the mangoes? Now, that’s a question that is of immense importance to the State and its people.

Take a walk through the markets of Goa, and you will see mangoes for sale, but there is no sweet whiff of the fruit that tickles the nose buds and waters the mouth.

The reason is simple, and a closer look at the mangoes confirms the suspicion that these are not the Goan mangoes, but are varieties from outside the State that are not as flavoursome as those that are grown on Goan soil.

Goa has been getting its vegetables and fruits, even mangoes to some extent, from across the borders.

The signs are ominous at the moment, and beg the question of whether Goa, in the future, will depend for a substantial amount of its mango supply from outside the state.

Around January this year, it was evident that there would be a drop in mango production in Goa.

Just a few mango trees had flowered. The reason being that the cold spell the trees require to flower came late, and it lasted only a few days.

Usually, the trees start flowering in December and early January. This year, it was mid-January before the first trees sprouted flowers.

If a low production was expected, then so too, it followed that the prices would be high. And high they are, exorbitant even.

In early April, mancurad mangoes are selling at Rs 3,000 a dozen, the Goan alphonso at Rs 1,200 a dozen, and prices will possibly not drop much below that in the weeks ahead, which means that many people may just not get slurp up on mangoes as they used to do.

Mancurad is Goa’s prime mango, the variety that grows in largest quantities, has the highest demand and possibly the most profitable for mango farmers.

The sweet taste of the mango ensures that it is in high demand, but its low shelf life means that it cannot be considered for export, unlike the alphonso from South Maharashtra that is exported.

Mancurad mangoes were accorded GI status last year. This was the biggest move in relation to the mango, and protecting it from being grafted outside Goa and a poorer variety sold under the same name.

But then, what’s the point of the status if the mango crop is low?

The mancurad mango requires more than just a GI tag. This geographical indication should convert into the mango reaching the consumer, which means that production should increase, and prices have to be stabilised so that the common man can buy and eat it.

How many in Goa can afford to buy mangoes at over Rs 200 each? Such prices in season are just not heard of.

Last year, at the peak of the season, a good quality mancurad was available at Rs 100 a piece. This year, it appears to have doubled in price. Question is: are the mango farmers making a profit, or is it the middlemen who are raking in the profits?

Changes in weather patterns are most definitely affecting agriculture and horticulture. The climate vagaries can be pinpointed as being responsible for the low productivity that is expected this season.

But, is that all? Or, is it that there are also less fruit bearing trees. For this is not just about one particular variety of mangoes. This is about all varieties that even a couple of decades ago were available in plenty.

It is difficult to get some good quality musarad, xavier, fernand, hilario or so many of the others that were once found in abundance. Where have they disappeared?

In 2021, it had been announced that ICAR was working on making mancurad mangoes available round the year, and not just during the summer season.

It was a welcome move as who would say no to mancurad at any time of the year. We do await that this experiment will be a success as it may also lead to the mango variety being more affordable.

And, once successful, that research can then be extended to other varieties so that the Goan mangoes do not disappear. Efforts must be made to conserve the varieties while they are still available and time is possibly running out.