Fungal disease damages mango crop in Kangra; farmers report up to 40% loss

Fungal infections have severely impacted mango orchards in the lower areas of Kangra, with farmers reporting crop losses of up to 30-40 per cent. Locally referred to as ‘chippa’, the disease occurs due to pests attacking the mango crop during the flowering stage.

These pests suck nutrients from the soft tissues of leaves, flowers and young fruits. In the process, they excrete a sweet, sticky liquid that encourages the growth of fungi on the leaves and branches. The resulting infection causes premature fruit drop, leading to significant crop losses.

“In many orchards, over 40 per cent of the standing mango crop has been ruined due to fungal infections,” said a local mango grower. “Unseasonal rainfall in March and April created high moisture levels in the air, which rendered even pesticide sprays ineffective.”

Kangra is known for its high-quality mangoes, particularly from the Nurpur belt, with orchards covering over 20,000 hectares of land.

Vijay Kumar, a mango grower from Sulaha, shared his concern: “My orchard has been badly affected. Nearly 40 per cent of my crop is damaged due to this fungal disease.”

Agro-scientists from HP Agriculture University confirmed that insect pests like mango hoppers, along with fungal diseases such as anthracnose and powdery mildew, are responsible for the damage. “Prolonged moisture due to abnormal weather in March and April has led to the outbreak of these diseases,” senior scientists noted.

However, officials from the district horticulture department downplayed the severity of the situation. They stated that the overall impact on the mango crop is minimal and claimed that timely spraying by farmers helped mitigate major losses. “There is no significant damage in the lower areas of Kangra district,” the department said.

Himachal Tribune