Ratnagiri's Alphonso mango growers are facing one of their toughest seasons in recent years as weather-related disruptions sharply reduced production and created concerns over the growing sale of lookalike mangoes under the Ratnagiri Alphonso name. Farmers say lower yields, higher prices, export challenges and confusion over product origin have emerged as major issues this year, raising concerns about the future identity of the Geographical Indication (GI)-certified fruit, a TOI report stated.
The season began with expectations of a strong harvest after good flowering in orchards. However, delayed flowering, fungal attacks, cold weather, pollution and later heatwaves affected fruit development, resulting in substantial crop losses across Ratnagiri and nearby regions. As supplies declined, growers say the market witnessed an increase in mangoes from other regions being sold as Ratnagiri Alphonso, creating concerns about authenticity and consumer trust.
