Panaji: Across Goa, orchards consist of century-old mango trees that have grown into towering canopies, making harvesting increasingly difficult and risky. Farmers often struggle to access fruits at the top, while ageing branches become weak and prone to snapping during storms and decay.Mango cultivators in the state are embracing scientific pruning and canopy management techniques to rejuvenate ageing orchards in Goa after the directorate of agriculture introduced the initiative this month to train farmers in the management of old and “senile” mango plantations.“The practice also reduces the risk of entire trees collapsing during heavy winds and monsoon rains,” said deputy director of agriculture Dattaprasad Desai.About 30 mango cultivators participated in the practical training sessions recently held in Ponda and later demonstrated at a farm in Codar.The pruning system being promoted resembles “canopy management”, where the centre of the tree is opened up to improve sunlight penetration. The idea is to maintain manageable tree height while maximising light exposure and air circulation.“Traditionally, mango orchards were planted at wide spacings of 10x10m. However, newer high-density systems are reducing this to 5x5m. If one large tree at 10×10 spacing gives 100kg, two smaller managed trees in the same area may together produce 100-120kg,” Desai said.He stressed that pruning mango trees is technical. Farmers are being advised to use chainsaws or sharp hacksaws to ensure smooth cuts that do not crack the bark.
