Farmers in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra's Konkan belt estimate this year's Alphonso mango yield will be down by as much as half of the 10-year average.
The main reason for the decrease is damage caused by Cyclone Phyan, which hit the region last November, the Hindu Business Line reported.
The Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Raigad districts account for almost all the state's Alphonso production, with around 130,000ha of crops.
"According to government estimates, 46,000 fruit-bearing trees were destroyed by Phyan," said Dr Vivek Bhide, whose GlobalGAP certified farm is in Ratnagiri district.
"Even at the conservative estimate of ten boxes, with five dozen mangoes apiece, lost per tree, the drop in production will be to the tune of 450,000 boxes this year.
"According to my estimates, this year's yield in Ratnagiri district will be 60 per cent of the 10-year average," Dr Bhide said.
The situation is similar in Sindhudurg district, home of the Devgad Hapoos variety.
"I feel production of Hapoos in this district will be hit to the tune of 50 per cent of the average," Vengurla farmer Bhushan Nabar said.
The Alphonso season begins in early March, peaks in mid-April and ends in late May but Dr Bhide said there are signs of a third flowering season, which could extend production.
"I think the season will extend well into June because of this," he said.
An application has been filed for Geographical Indication (GI)status for Alphonso's grown in the Konkan region, as was recently granted to Malihabad's Dussehari variety.
