A below average production of mango is expected to lead to a 20 per cent loss in the new season due to weather change.
A relatively cooler temperature and dusty winds in March led to fruit shedding in Sindh and South Punjab.
The loss in fruit production is likely to accelerate up to 35 per cent in Sindh and 15 per cent in Punjab.
“Historically, Punjab produces 1.3 million tonnes of mango,” says an official of the Agriculture Department. This year, the figure might drop to anywhere between 1m tonnes and 1.1m tonnes.
Reports from Sindh suggest that out of total production of over 400,000 tonnes, it might come down to 300,000 tonnes.
Exporter Saadat Ijaz Qureshi claimed that whatever the local production figure might be, the exports would remain unaffected.
The exporters say that the loss would not hit the exports. This year, the exports might increase to some extent, especially to the Gulf region, because of the holy month of Ramadan falling right in the middle of the export season.