Pune: Here's some good news for mango lovers in the city. Despite the delay this year, you will be able to purchase mangoes at a cheaper rate once they hit the market from April 1, due to the increase in supply. 

Normally mangoes start arriving in the market from mid-February every year, and a large quantity is available when Gudhi Padwa is celebrated. This year, it took a longer time for mangoes to reach the market because of the bad weather in November and December last year which destroyed early flowering completely. 

But fruits have been set on delayed flowering on a large scale. A bumper harvest of mangoes will result in a drop in prices. 

While, Alphonso mangoes, popularly known as 'Hapus' start arriving in the city market by the end of February, the supply picks up significantly by March and increases till May-end. 

Sudhir Joshi, a mango farmer from Devgad in Sindhudurg district said, "This year, fruits were set on flowering in January. But since the entire produce is likely to hit the market in a short span of time, farmers are not going to benefit from a good harvest as the prices are going to drop." 

A mango exporter from Pune, Abhijeet Bhasale said, "Currently prices in the domestic market are Rs 3,000 to 5,000 for the box of 18 kg. But once mangoes arrive in large numbers, prices are likely to drop to Rs 1,500 to 3,000 per box. It will drop further if the supply improves." 

He said the retail price of mangoes is Rs 700 to 1,200 per dozen, based on quality and size of the fruits. It may go down to Rs 300 to 600 per dozen from mid-April. 

Why was the arrival of mangoes delayed? 
Cyclone Ockhi, which hit India's western coast in early December, damaged the flowering of mango trees. Hence delayed second flowering impacted the fruit's initiation and will arrive in the market by April 1.