Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Strange weather patterns to hit India's mango supply

Uttar Pradesh accounts for 23 per cent of the country's mango production

Strange weather patterns to hit India's mango supply

UNUSUAL weather patterns, including unexpected rainfall, strong winds, hailstorms, and a mild May, have resulted in a bleak outlook for India's mango production, reported The Times.

The absence of typical scorching heat in northern India during May has led to approximately 40 per cent of this year's crop being harmed, leading to a shortage of mangoes that could impact their availability in British supermarkets.


According to the report, mango growers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand states are disheartened by the disruptive and abnormal weather conditions that have significantly impacted the anticipated mango season.

Spanning from May to July and featuring a delightful selection of 1,400 mango varieties, India's mango season provides a small yet delightful respite from the scorching summer.

However, Indians are now confronted with a scarcity of mangoes, and even the mangoes available in the market may have been harvested prematurely due to the fruit falling prematurely.

Owing to this, growers gathered the crop before it reaches its optimal ripeness.

Randhir Choudhary, who owns 50 acres of mango orchards in Bihar and is co-ordinator of the state’s mango growers’ federation, said that the weather has been 'strange' since February.

“We didn’t have rain when we needed it but had untimely rain in March and hail stones in April. Hail storms are lethal. And in May when the fruit needs hot weather to ripen, the temperatures were abnormally low. The size and the flavour have been affected," Choudhary was quoted as saying by The Times.

“If nature doesn’t correct itself, I can see mango cultivation being wiped out. There will be some mangoes but inferior ones with none of the taste."

The renowned orchards in Uttar Pradesh have experienced severe repercussions, with significant impact on the state's mango production.

Being responsible for 23 per cent of the country's mango output, the north Indian state plays a crucial role in supplying its famous mango varieties to UK supermarkets, various European regions, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia.

Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of Kay Bee Exports, said that the decrease in crop production in northern India will impact mango supplies, although Indian mangoes are not exported to the UK in quantities as substantial as those from Pakistan.

Mango growers in India faced unfavorable conditions this year as the country witnessed its hottest February since 1901. This rise in temperature adversely affected their harvest.

Last year, saw a severe and unexpected heatwave in Bihar, resulting in a staggering 60 per cent loss of the crop.

More For You

Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

Customers shop for 'Kolhapuri' sandals, an Indian ethnic footwear, at a store in New Delhi, India, June 27, 2025. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Kolhapuri sandal sales surge in India post Prada controversy

INDIAN footwear sellers and artisans are tapping into nationalist pride stoked by the Prada 'sandal scandal' in a bid to boost sales of ethnic slippers with history dating back to the 12th century, raising hopes of reviving a struggling craft.

Sales are surging over the past week for the 'Kolhapuri' sandals that have garnered global attention after Prada sparked a controversy by showcasing similar designs in Milan, without initially crediting the footwear's origins.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK business district
The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London.
Getty Images

Economy grew 0.7 per cent in Q1 2025, fastest in a year

THE UK economy expanded at its fastest pace in a year during the first quarter of 2025, driven by a rise in home purchases ahead of a tax deadline and higher manufacturing output before the introduction of new US import tariffs.

Gross domestic product rose by 0.7 per cent in the January-to-March period, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, confirming its earlier estimate. This was the strongest quarterly growth since the first quarter of 2024.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rosneft in early talks to sell India refinery stake to Reliance

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani (Photo: Getty Images)

Rosneft in early talks to sell India refinery stake to Reliance

RUSSIAN oil major PJSC Rosneft Oil Company is in early discussions with Reliance Industries to sell its 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara Energy, an Indian energy company that operates a 20-million-tonnes-per-year oil refinery and 6,750 petrol pumps, sources familiar with the matter said.

The deal, if finalised, would see Reliance overtake state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to become India’s largest oil refiner. It would also provide Reliance with a significant expansion in fuel retailing, where it currently holds a relatively small presence.

Keep ReadingShow less
modi-trump-getty
Trump shakes hands with Modi during a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

Key issues in India, US trade talks

TRADE talks between India and the US have hit a roadblock over disagreements on duties for auto components, steel and farm goods, Indian government sources said to Reuters, dashing hopes of reaching an interim deal ahead of president Donald Trump's July 9 deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs.

Here are the key issues at play:

Keep ReadingShow less
Anil Agarwal

Vedanta Resources, which is based in the UK and owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, has been working on reducing its debt. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources signs £438 million refinancing deal

VEDANTA LTD said on Thursday that its parent company, Vedanta Resources, has signed a loan facility agreement worth up to £438 million with international banks to refinance existing debt.

The refinancing move, where old loans are replaced by new ones, often at better terms like lower interest rates, has led ratings agencies such as S&P Global Ratings and Moody's to upgrade their outlook on the company this year.

Keep ReadingShow less