Rapid groundwater depletion threatens mango production

Jadcherla (Mahbubnagar): Even the king of fruits is not immune to the vagaries of nature. The standing mango crop in more than 3,000 acres in Balanagar, Midjil and Nawabpet mandals of Jadcherla Assembly constituency is severely hit by the prevailing drought conditions in the district.

Mostly depended on borewells for water, the mango crop is facing a tough time as the bores went dry. The alarming fall of groundwater levels turned many borewells mere show pieces in the farms. With the tough conditions, the mango trees started withering from the flowering stage itself. Even as the Telugu New Year Ugadi is fast approaching, there are no signs of the trees bearing abundant fruits in this season.

Those tenant farmers, who took the mango orchards on lease by paying a whopping rent amount ranging from Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh per acre, are the worst hit. In some orchards, even the decades old mango trees are seen perished due to lack of adequate irrigation water and adverse weather conditions.

Speaking to The Hans India, a tenant farmer Krishnaiah said, “The situation was somewhat better last season. But this time, there are no chances of getting the investment on the mango crop back. There will be a drastic decline in the crop yield if the mercury rises further in the coming weeks.’’

A woman farmer Lakshmi blamed the horticultural officials. She said, officials have failed to provide proper guidance to mango growers on the steps to be taken to protect their standing crop in the prevailing drought conditions. The rate of fruit dropping is quite high in the mango orchards, causing severe concern to farmers.

Another farmer Lakshmaiah said, “Many mango farmers have already gave up their hopes of reaping a normal yield this season. Realising the gravity of the situation, the State government should immediately come to our rescue. Otherwise, the debt-ridden mango farmers will be left with no option but to resort to the extreme step of ending their lives.”