India’s Alphonso Mango Season Crumbles Amid Heatwaves And Export Disruptions

India’s iconic Alphonso mango, often celebrated as the “King of Mangoes,” is facing one of its worst seasons in decades as extreme weather conditions and global trade disruptions severely impact production and exports.

Highly prized across India and international markets, Alphonso mangoes hold special importance in the coastal regions of Maharashtra, where the fruit is both a cultural symbol and a major source of seasonal income.

This year, however, growers and exporters say the harvest has been devastated by climate-related damage and falling overseas demand.

Mango Farmers Report Massive Crop Losses

In Devgad, one of Maharashtra’s best-known Alphonso-growing regions, many orchards reportedly produced only a fraction of their normal yield.

Farmers described widespread losses after unusual weather conditions disrupted the fruit’s growth cycle. According to local assessments, crop damage in some parts of the district may have reached as high as 85 to 90 percent.

The crisis has also affected small orchard owners who are struggling to meet supply commitments made to retailers and online grocery platforms.

Extreme Weather Hit Flowering And Fruit Growth

The season’s damage reportedly unfolded in two phases.

Large temperature fluctuations between daytime and nighttime during December and January affected the flowering stage of mango trees, reducing fruit formation early in the season.

Later, unusually intense heat during April and May further damaged developing mangoes. Experts have linked the extreme weather conditions to the effects of the El Niño weather pattern, which is known to cause irregular climate conditions globally.

Scientists have warned that stronger and more frequent heatwaves could increasingly threaten sensitive crops such as Alphonso mangoes in the coming years.

Export Demand Falls Amid Gulf Trade Disruptions

Alongside weather-related losses, exporters are also facing declining demand from Gulf markets due to ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting trade routes in the region.

India remains the world’s largest mango producer, with total mango production reaching nearly 28 million metric tonnes in 2024-25. Alphonso mangoes form a valuable part of the country’s fruit export industry.

However, exporters say shipments to markets such as Dubai and Oman have reportedly declined sharply this season as regional instability disrupted transportation and trade activity.

The slowdown has added further pressure on farmers and businesses already struggling with reduced production.

Local Businesses Also Feeling The Impact

The crisis is affecting not just farmers but entire local economies dependent on the seasonal mango trade.

Packaging suppliers, transport operators, traders and labourers across Maharashtra’s coastal belt are reporting significant losses due to weak demand and lower harvest volumes.

Many businesses that rely heavily on the annual mango season now fear reduced income and financial strain if conditions continue to worsen in future years.

Climate Risks Raising Concerns For Future Harvests

Agriculture experts say this season highlights the growing vulnerability of fruit crops to changing climate patterns.

Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall and prolonged heatwaves are increasingly affecting crop cycles, particularly for fruits like Alphonso mangoes that depend on stable seasonal conditions for flowering and ripening.

For many growers in Maharashtra, this year’s disappointing harvest has become a warning sign of how climate change and global instability can combine to threaten even India’s most celebrated agricultural products.