LAHAN, June 29: Siraha and Saptari, regarded as the mango capital of the country, saw a decline in the production of the fruit this year. The epidemic of insect and pests led to the decline this year, which was also a year of low mango production, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Rajbiraj.
Siraha this year produced 7,775 metric tons of mangoes at the rate of 1.5 metric ton per hectre. Mango had been cultivated in 5,160 hectares of land, according to Chief of the Centre Bhagirath Yadav. Last year, 23,265 metric tons of mangoes were produced in 5,170 hectares at the rate of 4.5 metric ton per hectare.
Likewise, mango production has also decreased in Saptari district this year. A total of 7,000 metric tons of mangoes were produced in 5,000 hectares of land at the rate of 1.5 metric tons per hectare. Last year, the production of mangoes was 8 metric ton per hectare in Saptari.
Zeromile, Golbazaar, Mirchaiya of Siraha and Kanchanpur, Rupnagar, Sitapur, Mahuli, Kalyanpur, Kushawa, Lohajar, Jandaul, Haripur of Saptari are the pocket areas of mango production.
Heavy winds and hailstorm during the flowering season and pests led to a decline in the production despite the increase in the area of cultivation of mangoes this year, Yadav said.
Meanwhile, the low production has led to a rise in the price of mangoes in Siraha and Saptari markets. Maldaha species of mangoes that sold for Rs. 50 per kg last year cost Rs. 100 per kg this year. It was a similar difference for other species of mangoes.
