The mango season in Maharashtra has commenced earlier than usual due to an unexpected surge in fruit production in the Konkan orchards. This surplus has caused a drop in prices for Hapus mangoes, as more arrivals flood the markets from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Currently, a dozen mangoes are priced at Rs 800-1,000, considered average. Despite initial concerns about December rains, farmers were pleasantly surprised by abundant fruit, resulting in early harvests.
Sindhudurg Hapus leads the market, followed by Ratnagiri and Raigad varieties. The increase in mangoes is attributed to favorable weather in Karnataka and early harvesting by farmers to secure better prices, significantly reducing mango prices, with Karnataka mangoes selling for Rs 200-300 per dozen in Pune’s wholesale market. Additionally, other varieties like Lalbaugh and Payari have also experienced price reductions.
