High Mango Prices This Akshaya Tritiya As Supply Falls Short Of Demand In Pune Market Yard

Market Yard, 30th April 2025: Mango supply from the Konkan region has increased ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, but prices remain significantly higher than last year due to reduced production. Despite a surge in demand across both wholesale and retail markets, there is a noticeable shortage of fully ripened Alphonso mangoes.

Akshaya Tritiya, considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar, traditionally sees a spike in mango purchases as families offer the fruit as a ritual offering to ancestors. This year, the festival falls on Wednesday (30th April), and the Pune Market Yard has seen a surge in mango arrivals from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Raigad districts. On Sunday (27th April) alone, around 4,500 to 5,000 crates of Alphonso mangoes were brought in. In contrast, last year saw 8,000 to 10,000 crates arrive during the same period.

Traders from Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard attributed the drop to climate changes, which they say reduced mango cultivation in Konkan by almost 50%. With demand far exceeding supply, prices have risen sharply. On Tuesday (29th April), heavy footfall was seen at both wholesale and retail markets as customers sought 1- or 2-dozen boxes of ready-to-eat mangoes. Prices ranged from ₹500 to ₹800 per dozen, depending on quality, while 2-dozen crates were sold for ₹1,100 to ₹1,200.

The Alphonso mango season is nearing its end much earlier than usual. Typically, the season lasts until the first week of June, but this year it is expected to conclude between 10th May and 15th May due to rising temperatures, which have accelerated ripening.

Meanwhile, Karnataka mangoes are beginning to fill the gap. The harvest in Karnataka began a month late due to flower drop caused by unseasonal weather despite good initial flowering in December and January. On Sunday, about 3,000 crates (4 to 7 dozen per crate) and 20,000 crates (2 dozen each) of mangoes from Karnataka arrived in Pune, and volumes are expected to increase from 1st May.

A mango trader stated that the state’s mango season will likely continue until mid-June. Popular varieties such as Pairi, Lalbagh, and Badami have started arriving, with prices for one dozen ripened mangoes ranging from ₹400 to ₹600 depending on grade.