The mango crop in the southern Indian region of Andhra Pradesh has been decimated this season by adverse climatic conditions.

This year’s yield is likely to hit just 50 per cent of last season’s level, because of a dry patch since the last major spell of dew in August and September 2006, coupled with various pest attacks.

Mangoes, largely consisting of the Suvarnarekha variety, are grown in 37,000ha in the district, with last year’s yield standing at 1.9 tonnes per hectare.

Whilst some growers blame pest outbreaks, others say rainfall would have saved the crop from such far-reaching damage.

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