Bengaluru, DHNS: Export of mangoes from the state is likely to be affected this season, according to the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL).

Mango season which normally begins in April first week has advanced by 15 days due to early flowering caused by increase in temperature in February. “Because of early summer heat and drought, the fruits have started to ripen,’’ Kadre Gowda, manging director, KSMDMCL, said.

Gowda told DH that though excessive heat increases soluble content of glucose making mangoes sweeter, the size of the fruit is likely to be smaller. “Smaller fruits will impact both exports and the price,’’ he said, adding that size of the fruit is a key factor in determining the exports. Alphonso is one of the mango varieties in demand in Europe, Gulf countries and in the US.

Gowda said that presently mangoes on trees are in four stages — some are mature, some in lemon size, some in peanut size and some are still flowering. Looking at the present situation, the KSMDMCL expects the yield to be around eight to 10 lakh tonnes.

The final output will be known only after 15 days, when harvesting starts and the fruits hit the market. There can be changes in weather like strong winds, hailstorm, sudden downpour or rise in temperature. All these factors play a crucial role in the yield, he explained.

The average yield of Karnataka is expected to be around 13 to 14 lakh tonnes, which was reached last year when the KSMDMCL had announced that there was surplus production. The maximum mango production Karnataka can reach is 16 lakh tonnes, when the rainfall and summer pattern are as per schedule.

However, Sindhura, a variety of mango, that has already hit the market, is being sold at around Rs 150 per kg. A senior KSMDMCL official said that this crop is coming from neighbouring states and it has been ripened using artificial methods by middlemen and distributors. The official cautioned people against buying them.