Mango-production

MULTAN, , (Muzaffargarh.City – 17th May, 2017 ) : The production of mango this year is expected to be 1500,000 tonnes which is as low as 2 lac tonnes compared to the last year. Talking to APP here on Wednesday, Dean Faculty of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed Rajwana said multiple factors were the cause of expected low production of fruit during this season.

He added unprecedented closure of canals and rising temperature in the last month were some of the major reasons of this situation. The academician said April last saw 44 degrees celsius though the mercury normally did not touch the figure in past year, adding the temperature had much affected the king of fruits.

Dr Rajwana added the scarcity of water also affected the fruit crop. He said when the production of mango was low, the rest of the fruit becomes weighty and the fruit sheds with its weight in case of wind storms.

To a question, he said windstorms during the last few days had also shed the fruit, adding that:” If we go through data of mango production for last four or five years, we could notice the fluctuation in mango production”.

Replying another question, Dr Rajwana mentioned about “alternative bearing” of the fruit adding that only up to 6 per cent of total production of mango was exported annually. When contacted XEN Operations Irrigation Multan zone Zahid Hussain confirmed that the department was providing water to farmers spend thrifty through canals this year.

He added that no unprecedented closure of canals was made in Multan. He, however, informed that Muzaffargarh canal remained closed for a longer period due to its lining work this time.