This year, the famed mango orchards of Malihabad in Lucknow are under severe stress. The fruits are smaller than usual, many are dropping prematurely, and growers are reporting a sharp decline in overall production. Farmers and scientists say the culprit is a rapidly changing climate that has disrupted the delicate weather cycle essential for mango cultivation.
Often called the mango capital of India, Malihabad holds the same significance for mangoes that Darjeeling does for tea or Kashmir does for saffron. Its Dasheri plays a central role in India’s mango story – the country produces nearly half of the world’s mangoes, accounting for roughly 40 to 45 percent of global output. Thousands of farming families, traders, packers, transporters, and exporters depend on the Dasheri crop for their livelihoods.
