Marginal rise in mango and cashew output in Goa amid climate challenges

Panaji: Goa recorded a modest increase in mango and cashew production for the fiscal year 2024-25, but erratic weather patterns continue to threaten long-term agricultural productivity in the state.According to official data shared by the directorate of agriculture, the state produced 10,440 tonnes of mangoes and 24,882 tonnes of cashew nuts this season. This is a slight rise from the 10,079 tonnes of mango and 24,240 tonnes of cashew recorded in the 2023-24 season. However, both crops still fall short of the peak figures seen five years ago. In 2020-21, mango production was 10,282 tonnes, while cashew production was much higher at 27,366 tonnes.Farmers attributed the inconsistency in output largely to climate change. “Over the past decade, we saw erratic rainfall patterns which are affecting productivity. Earlier, we could plan our work around the seasons, but now we just wait and hope. Even if we expand our plantations, the yield won’t improve unless the weather supports us, and this cycle will continue until govt compensates us for the losses,” a farmer from Sattari said.

The Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd (GSHCL) said that under ideal conditions, crops require a stable winter of at least two to three months to yield optimally.“The monsoon now extends well into Oct, Nov, and even Dec. This overlaps with the flowering and fruiting stages of both mango and cashew crops. The recent seasonal patterns left farmers with only one to one-and-a-half months of clear winter, which is insufficient,” said GSHCL managing director Chandrahas Desai.With climate unpredictability, farmers said that without adaptive farming practices and targeted govt support, Goa’s mango and cashew industries may struggle to maintain their legacy and profitability in the future.“While there are efforts to increase the area under cultivation, there’s little farmers can do when the weather doesn’t cooperate. What we need now are strong mitigation measures, including the promotion of climate-resilient crop varieties,” another farmer said.