Mango Farmers in Maharashtra Struggle Amidst Crop Failures
In Maharashtra, a western state of India, mango farmer Komal Walke is facing tough times. This year, her family’s three acres of Alphonso mango orchards have yielded almost no fruit. As a result, the 26-year-old horticulturist from the coastal town of Devgad has had to rely on larger farms to fulfill orders from online grocers.
āIf we donāt meet our orders, we risk losing our big clients for next year,ā Walke shared, highlighting the pressure on her familyās business.
India holds the title as the worldās largest mango producer, generating 28 million metric tons of the fruit in the 2024-2025 season, according to data from CRISIL. Maharashtra is especially known for its prized Alphonso mangoes, often called the “King of Mangoes.” Unfortunately, this year, hot weather has devastated the crop.
Bapusaheb Manikrao Lambade, a government agriculture officer in Devgad, explained that a stark contrast between daytime and nighttime temperatures in December and January hampered the flowering process. Additionally, warmer-than-normal temperatures in April and May, likely influenced by the El NiƱo climate pattern, spoiled the fruit.
El NiƱo causes significant weather changes worldwide and is expected to adversely affect farming in regions across Asia, South America, and Africa this year.
A recent government survey estimated that crop losses in Devgad could reach up to 90% for this season. Other mango-growing regions in the state have also experienced similar challenges.
The total value of India’s mango crop was around $2.3 billion last year, and this market is projected to grow to $3.4 billion by 2031, as noted by Indian research firm Mordor Intelligence. Although a large portion of the mangoes stay within India, there were exports worth $56 million in fresh mangoes and $80 million in mango pulp in 2025.
Interviews with farmers, traders, and officials revealed the extent of the losses, indicating production is among the lowest seen in decades.
Challenges in Exporting Mangoes
The difficulties in the mango trade have been worsened by the ongoing war in Iran, affecting exports from India, which competes with countries like Mexico and Thailand. The United Arab Emirates, the United States, the UK, Kuwait, and Qatar are significant importers of Indian mangoes.
Shridhar Pathak, co-founder of Shreevali Agro, a mango exporting company, noted that freight costs have surged over twofold this year. Delays and cancellations of shipments to the Gulf regions, including Dubai and Oman, have led to a nearly 40% drop in exports.
Fruit initially meant for export is now flooding local markets, causing prices to fall despite the overall shortages caused by El NiƱo.
This disruption has had wider effects, impacting businesses linked to the mango season. Sanjay Nare, who manufactures mango cartons in Malvan, revealed he is sitting on nearly 100,000 unsold boxes this year. Situated about 32 miles from Devgad, he emphasized, āThe local economy relies on mangoes and fish. Without our seasonal mangoes, we have very little left.ā
As the mango season unfolds, the challenges for farmers and the local economy remain profound.
