Gujarat’s Valsad district is widely known for its Hapus (Alphonso) variant of mangoes. However, Hapus production in the district has seen a steady decline over the past few years.

Mangoes are grown across 91,428 acres in Valsad, which sees a 150% annual increase in its production.

According to a survey conducted by the Valsad District Panchayat’s agriculture department, 29,652 acres of the total mango cultivation area are covered with Hapus. Of this, only 17,297 acres have old Hapus trees.

The decline in Hapus mango production has shaken the confidence of farmers, who heavily rely on its market values. As a result, the new generation of farmers is planting Kesar mangoes instead. Kesar mangoes provide a better yield every year than Hapus.

Farmers owning old Hapus trees have maintained them, but they have  restrained from planting new ones.

Valsad District Agriculture Officer Garasiya said, “In comparison with Hapus, Kesar mango is cultivated on 61,776 acres. This effect will gradually be seen widely in the next five to seven years.”

Tejas Patel, a farmer from Kewada village, said, “The Hapus crop is directly affected by climate change and weather conditions every year.” He added, “Last year, despite good flowering, the crops of some farmers failed due to unseasonal rains. No farmer wants his crop to fail, which is his source of income for the whole year.”

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