Experts from the Horticulture department feel that the rise in the temperature may affect the first lot of the mango crop and if not taken care at the right time, it may affect the overall production. Known for its Dusseri variety of mango, Malihabad is a mango-lovers delight and the state government’s Mandi Parishad has been exporting the finest variety of the mango, Nawab, to several countries in Middle East and Europe.

According to the official figures, the annual mango production in the state is estimated around 4 million metric tonnes, of which 50 per cent was lost to pre-harvest and post- harvest losses.

The season always witnesses a soaring business between Rs 4 crore and Rs 10 crore in Malihabad and Barabanki. But this year, the first blossom is already dying prematurely, and experts feel that this will have an adverse impact on the early crop and the export of the king of fruits.

“Owing to the changing weather conditions, we have seen an early blossom since the last two years,” said Kunwar Bhupendra Singh, director of the National Horticulture Board of India and a mango grower of Malihabad region.

“But incidentally, what has been different this year is that the blossom is also withering away early. We have already started seeing the blossoms dying out and new leaves coming in, which is not a good sign,” said Singh.

A large part of the crop is damaged with the heavy dust storms that were witnessed in April, which also damaged the crop to a great extent, he added. The farmers have already noticed the change in the blossoms.

“The volume of the blossoms is barely 20 per cent compared to previous years. With part of these blossoms drying up, things could go worse,” he said. The current situation has also sent the officials of the Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad (UPMP) to a tizzy. They have started visiting the farms to analyse the situation and make ways to tackle it.

“We have noticed that this year, the crop will be at least 60 per cent less compared to the previous years. This will not only affect our exports, but also see the prices soaring in the local markets as well,” said SN Mishra of UPMP.