Gujarat : Navsari’s Famous Kesar and Hafus Mangoes Hit Hard as Weather Wrecks Harvest

Navsari | Gujarat — South Gujarat’s celebrated Hafus and Kesar mangoes—once symbols of sweetness and pride—are facing one of their worst seasons in recent years. In Navsari district, unpredictable weather patterns have slashed production dramatically, leaving farmers and orchard contractors staring at heavy financial losses.

What was expected to be a promising harvest has turned into a crisis, with only 15–20% of the crop surviving after months of climatic stress. Rising temperatures and a weak winter have together created a double blow that farmers say has “broken the backbone” of the mango economy this year.

Unseasonal Weather Devastates Blossom Cycle

According to Pinakin Patel, President of the Navsari District Farmers’ Society, the natural cycle required for mango flowering never properly developed this season.

“The cold required for mango cultivation never came this year. Instead, winter remained unusually humid, causing heavy flower drop. Now the surviving crop is facing extreme heat, and fruits are either falling or getting scorched on the tree,” Patel said.

This disruption has severely impacted fruit retention and quality, with many mangoes appearing underdeveloped or prematurely ripened.

Contractors Face Mounting Financial Losses

The crisis has hit orchard contractors particularly hard, many of whom lease large farms and invest heavily in seasonal care. Sheikh Mohammad Rehman, a long-time mango trader, described the situation as devastating.

“We expected 6,000 to 8,000 maunds, but now only 700 to 1,000 remain. Despite spraying pesticides every few days, nothing worked. I don’t know whether I should pay rent or run my household,” he said.

Repeated pest control measures, foggy winter conditions, and rising input costs have further deepened financial stress across the supply chain.

Prices Rise, But Farmers See Little Relief

Despite reduced supply, mango prices in the market are currently hovering between ₹1,400 and ₹1,600 per box. However, farmers and contractors say the earnings are not enough to cover even basic expenses after accounting for labour, transport, and commissions.

The poor yield has also affected fruit quality, with many mangoes failing to ripen properly or appearing immature due to weather stress.