Thaindian News

By Kamna Hajela

Malihabad (UP), May 23 (ANI): Poor production of mango has forced the mango growers in Malihabad region to take up guava cultivation.

Famous as the mango belt of the country, this region of Uttar Pradesh, is witnessing a sea change as more and more mango cultivators have switched over to growing guavas because the production of mango has not been good since last three years.

Considering the high investment that the mango growers have to make for growing mangoes, the losses incurred are too much to bear when the crop is not up to the expectations.

Faced with such a scenario, the mango growers have been forced to switch over to cultivating guavas.

“People are fed up with growing mangoes. So they are planning to cut their orchards and grow guavas, or even wheat, which also gets good money in the market, ” said Vijyendra Kumar, a mango grower.

Guava has caught the fancy of mango growers as it requires less investment, is less prone to diseases, needs less water and requires minimal care.According to estimates, around 25 percent of the mango growers in Malihabad are already in the process of taking up guava cultivation.

“This year, the production of mangoes was less, due to which the fruit growers incurred heavy losses and are now hard pressed for money. Also mango crop is more susceptible to pest attacks, whereas diseases do not infect guavas easily. All these factors are reason enough that mango growers are switching over to cultivating guavas, ” said Gautam Tripathi, another mango grower.

As against mango that gives yield once a year, the growers get better money from cultivating guavas, which yields fruit twice a year. (ANI)