Unseasonal rains worry mango farmers in state

At a time when the meteorological department predicted scorching heat waves with temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius, a surprise arrived in the form of drizzling rains across most of South Gujarat on Friday morning. While residents in Surat, Valsad, Navsari, and Bharuch districts heaved a sigh of relief from the oppressive heat, the sudden downpour caused worry for mango farmers facing potential losses to their standing crops.

"The change in the atmosphere was quite sudden," said a resident of Surat's Vesu area. "The skies were overcast early in the morning, and there were scattered rains in several parts of the city, including Bhatar, Pal, Jahangirpura, and Adajan. It brought much-needed relief from the extreme heat we've been experiencing."

Similar sentiments echoed in Vyara and Dahod, where light rains provided a respite from the scorching temperatures. However, the unseasonal downpour has)cast a shadow over) the region's mango crop, a)major)income source for many farmers.

"The sudden change in weather has us worried about the damage it might cause to our mango crop,")expressed a farmer from Valsad.)"The mangoes are still unripe, and unseasonal rains can significantly impact their quality and marketability."

The concerns are high in Navsari, where the mango harvest season is just around the corner. "The first batch of mangoes had just arrived in the market," explained another farmer. "But with these rains, traders have stopped buying, fearing damage to the fruit.) This, coupled with)the potential impact on the remaining crop,) could mean double trouble for us farmers."