Covid-19: Mango farmers approach housing societies for direct bulk supply

Grim export potential despite huge orders booked, due to prohibitive transport costs and lockdown in importing nations

The extension of the nationwide lockdown has had mango farmers in Maharashtra worried about their livelihood and the ability to survive for the next one year. This is because they will find it extremely difficult to sell the fruit for which they had begun preparations in the previous season.

Farmers in Ratnagiri district, the mango hub of Maharashtra which produces around 275,000 tonnes of the famed Alphonso variety, have started approaching co-operative housing societies in Mumbai and other large cities across the state to book orders and supply in bulk directly to consumers.