Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 10 INDIA May 29, 2026 I n India’s western state of Maha- rashtra, mango farmer Komal Walke is scrambling to meet orders from India’s online grocers after her fam- ily’s three acres of orchards produced almost no Alphonso mangoes this year. Walke, a 26-year-old horticulturist in the coastal town of Devgad, has been forced to source fruit from larger farms to keep her father’s business afloat. “If we don’t deliver on our orders, the big clients will not return next year,” she said. India is the world’s largest grower of mangoes and produced 28 million metric tons of the fruit in 2024 to 2025, data from research and rating agency CRISIL showed. Maharashtra is renowned for its Al- phonso mangoes, but officials say hotter weather has ruined this year’s crop of the variety known as the “King of Mangoes”. A sharp difference in day and night- time temperatures in December and January hurt flowering and fruit setting, while hotter than usual weather in April and May, probably due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, then spoiled the fruits themselves, said Bapusaheb Mani- krao Lambade, a government agriculture officer in Devgad, one of Maharashtra’s top Alphonso-growing areas. El Nino is a climate pattern that alters global weather and can trigger extreme conditions. A strong El Nino is expected this year and forecast to have an ad- verse effect on crops across Asia, South America and Africa. A government-backed survey by scientists and field officials earlier this year, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, estimates this year’s crop losses in Devgad at 85% to 90%. The weather has also caused losses in mango-growing areas elsewhere in the state. India’s entire mango crop was worth $2.3 billion last year, according to Indian research firmMordor Intelligence, which expects the market to grow to $3.4 billion by 2031. While much of the fruit stays in India – mangoes are popular during the blister- ing summer heat – about $56 million worth of mangoes and $80 million worth of mango pulp were exported in 2025. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen farmers in Maharashtra, as well as trad- ers, businesses, exporters and govern- ment officials, who said losses had been severe and production among the lowest in decades. WAR HURTS MANGO TRADE The weather damage has coincided with a slump in exports as a result of the Iran war. India is one of the world’s largest exporters of mangoes, competing with countries including Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam. The United Arab Emirates, the U.S., UK, Kuwait, and Qatar are among the biggest importers of Indian fresh man- goes. Shridhar Pathak, co-founder of mango exporter Shreevali Agro, said freight charges had more than doubled, and de- lays or cancellations to consignments for the Gulf including Dubai and Oman have cut his shipments by nearly 40% this year. Mangoes originally earmarked for export have been sent to local markets instead, driving prices down despite the El Nino-linked shortages, he said. The disruption has rippled across the supply chain, also hurting businesses linked to the seasonal mango trade. Sanjay Nare, a 52-year-old manufac- turer of mango cartons in Malvan, said he had unsold inventory of nearly 100,000 boxes in his factory this year. The coastal town is about 50 km (32 miles) from Devgad. - Reuters India’s Prized Alphonso Mango Crop Ruined By Weather PHOTOS:REUTERS/FRANCIS MASCARENHAS A migrant worker holds an Alphonso mango from a crate at a shop in Devgad, India, May 15, 2026. A man displays a sliced Alphonso mango with spongy tissue, a ripening disorder at the Devgad Alphonso Mango Producers Association in Devgad, India, May 13, 2026. I ndia’s Zee Entertainment is in talks with FIFA to stream and broadcast the 2026World Cup in the country, the company said in a statement on Tues- day. • The announcement, which provided no financial details, comes as talks between a Reliance-Disney joint venture and the football body are at a deadlock, just weeks before the tournament kicks off on June 11. • FIFA, which had initially sought $100 million for broadcast rights for the 2026 and 2030World Cups in In- dia, was last looking for no less than about $60 million, Reuters had reported. • The expected amount still far exceeds the $20 million offered by Reliance-Disney, led by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance. • Sony also held talks but decided not to make an of- fer for FIFA rights for India. • FIFA has concluded agreements with broadcasters in more than 180 territories globally, it said previously. • Zee Entertainment disclosed its talks with FIFA as part of its launch of Unite8 Sports, a dedicated portfolio of sports channels to strengthen its sports offerings to consumers. • India accounted for 2.9% of the global linear TV reach of theWorld Cup in 2022.” - Reuters Zee Entertainment In Talks With FIFA On World Cup Broadcast Rights In India