India, April 14 -- Unseasonal rains across the Konkan belt have severely disrupted the Alphonso mango season this year slashing production to nearly 25% of the usual levels. The sharp drop in yield has triggered a supply crunch that is now reflected in wholesale arrivals, pricing trends, and export flows.

The disruption is due to unseasonal rains during the crucial flowering and fruit-setting stages between late December and February, followed by intermittent showers in March. In addition, the season has also been delayed by nearly two to three weeks, further shrinking the availability of Alphonsos in the market.

At the Vashi Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the scale of disruption is evident. Typically, the APMC sees the a...