Production Scenarios of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) in Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Mango production covers 35% of the total acreage allotted for fruit production in Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. However, there is a declining trend in yield and quality of fruits from the trees. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the status, practices and challenges of mango production in the study area. Interviews were made taking 70 mango growers selected purposively in the major mango growing areas of the region using semi-structured questionnaire from 2012 to 2013. The results indicated that 50% of the households have few mango trees, 10-20 trees that are from seedling in origin derived from very few trees that were introduced from abroad via missionaries and traders a century ago. As a result, wide variations were observed in phenotypic features of trees within a farm as well as throughout the study area. In total, 39 distinct eco-types were recorded. Input shortage (water, fertilizer and pesticide), lack of improved technologies, pests (especially fruit fly and anthracnose), postharvest loss and poor marketing were the major problems specified by the growers. Therefore, focus should be given in improving the production, productivity and marketing of the crop in order to utilize the available and adaptable mango eco-types which are on the verge of disappearance.