Production of all types of mango, including the favourites like banganapalli (called Safeda in the north), alphonso, malgova and peeter (called pairi in the north), have dropped by nearly 50 per cent this year, estimate fruit merchants.

The Koyembedu wholesale fruit market in Chennai, for example, is estimating a 50-per cent drop in the arrivals of banganapalli, a fruit popular in the south for its special taste and aroma. Usually, by the first week of May when the peak season for mangoes begins in Chennai, the arrivals from Chittoor, Madanapalli and Krishnagiri of Andhra Pradesh increase four to five times that of April. In April around five to seven trucks per day reach the fruit market in Chennai.

However, the arrivals this May are expected to be only between 10 to 15 trucks (each truckload contains 10 tonne of the fruit) per day, compared to the last year's arrivals of 20 to 30 trucks.

Banganapalli mangoes, despite being smaller in size compared to last season, are selling at the same price as last April in Chennai at Rs 400 to Rs 600 per 100 mangoes, depending on the size, colour, quality and ripeness.

Usually, by May these prices drop by 25 per cent to 30 per cent to Rs 300-Rs 450 per 100, each weighing 400 gm to 500 gm. But, this year mango traders do not expect any reduction in the prices in May, owing to poor arrivals.

In fact, as the mangoes would be fully ripe and ready for consumption by then, the increasing demand is expected to send prices further up.

The production of lower end mango varieties like neelam, totapuri and rumani, which reach the markets end of May and arrive till end-June, is also projected to be lower this year, compared to last year. These varieties, are also expected to be dearer. Alphonso - `the king of mangoes'- the most expensive variety of mango cultivated in the country, is expected to cost anywhere between Rs 10 and Rs 20 per fruit in the wholesale markets. This mango variety is mainly cultivated in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka.y