Pune: Purandar tehsil, Maharashtra’s leading fig-producing region, is witnessing a difficult season as prolonged low temperatures over the past two months adversely affected fruit size, weight and overall yield, agriculture scientists said. The unseasonal cold has also led to a significantly higher premature drop of fig fruits, adding to the financial burdern faced by growers in a region where the plantation is spread across nearly 600 hectares. The fruit is supplied to major markets across the country and exported too. The tehsil is also known for its fig by-products, and any disruption in production has a direct impact on rural incomes and market stability, said growers.According to scientists at the Fig and Custard Apple Research Centre in Jadhavwadi, the persistent fall in minimum temperatures during a crucial phase of fruit development disrupted the crop’s normal growth cycle.“We observed that the size and weight of figs were lower than the average last season. In addition, the premature drop of fruits was much higher than what we usually record,” Yuvraj Balgude, plant pathologist at the research centre, told TOI.Figs are typically suited to dry and moderately warm climatic conditions, especially during the fruit-setting and development stages.The prolonged cold spell, scientists said, interfered with several physiological processes in the plant.“Low temperatures reduce nutrient absorption and translocation within the plant. As a result, nutrients essential for fruit enlargement and proper development are not adequately utilised,” Balgude explained.Field inspections conducted by scientists revealed that many fig plantations are showing signs of nutrient deficiency. This, they said, is not necessarily due to poor fertiliser application, but rather the plant’s reduced ability to take up nutrients under cold stress.“The problem is largely climate-induced. Even well-managed orchards are showing smaller fruits,” a senior agriculture officer said.The impact is clearly visible on the ground. Growers said fruits are failing to attain the size and weight required for premium grades, directly affecting market prices.“Figs are graded very strictly. Even a slight reduction in size pushes the produce into a lower price bracket,” said Akshay Jagtap, a farmer from Dive village in Purandar. “On top of that, when fruits drop before maturity, it is a complete loss.”In an attempt to counter the cold conditions, some growers tried traditional methods such as lighting small fires within the plantation to raise temperatures.However, scientists said these measures had limited success.“Such practices may provide a marginal increase in temperatures for a short duration, but they are not effective or sustainable at the orchard level,” Balgude said.The financial implications for growers are significant. Fig cultivation is an input-intensive activity, involving high costs for planting material, drip irrigation systems, fertilisers, labour and pest management. With yields expected to decline this season, many farmers feared that their input costs may not be fully recovered.“We invest throughout the year hoping for a good harvest. When the weather turns against us, there is very little we can do,” said another grower.Scientists advised growers to adopt more climate-resilient practices, including regular soil and leaf testing, balanced nutrient management and improved orchard monitoring during extreme weather conditions. They also stressed the need for a longer-term research into protective cultivation practices suited to changing climatic patterns.With climate variability becoming increasingly common, experts warned that crops like figs, which are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, could face greater risks in the coming years.“For Purandar’s fig growers, this season already served as a reminder of how vulnerable even well-established horticultural belts can be to shifts in weather, leaving farmers grappling with smaller fruits and mounting financial pressure,” an agriculture expert said.Traders, too, are cautious. “Consistency in quality is crucial. If supplies become unpredictable, buyers may look for alternatives,” said Yuvraj Kachi, a Pune-based fruit trader.
