As the climate changes, South Asia’s farmers rethink what and how they grow

For India’s mango growers, a few degrees can determine whether the season succeeds or falters. The flowering period usually begins in the first quarter of the year, setting the eventual size of the harvest. Ashok Kumar says temperatures between 14°C and 28°C are ideal, giving flowers a 40-hour window for easy pollination.

That window is becoming harder to rely on. Erratic weather affected northern India early this year, and growers saw the consequences by harvest time. Deepak Kumar, who cultivates four varieties including the especially vulnerable Dashehari, said unseasonal rain left some fruit smaller than usual. He expected an average of 200 kilograms per tree, but harvested barely 100 kilograms. His income fell by 30 percent.

Appearance adds another layer of risk. Buyers judge mangoes by their size, color and smell, so farmers cover individual fruits with brown paper bags to shield them from strong sunlight and insects while preserving their natural color. Ashok Kumar said bagged mangoes can earn at least 50 percent more.

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If the temperature remains in this range, the flowers have a 40-hour window to be pollinated easily.

Yet the extra work cannot guarantee a marketable crop. This season, Deepak Kumar found an unusual rusty discoloration on some mangoes, which he attributed to harsh weather. He said higher temperatures can bring more pests, while heavier rain encourages insects and fungus.

The pressures facing mango orchards reflect a broader shift across South Asia. In Pakistan, farmers are planting olives that can withstand hotter, drier conditions. Across the region, changing weather patterns are forcing farmers to rethink both the crops they produce and the methods they use to protect their livelihoods.

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Due to unseasonal rain, some of these fruits are smaller than usual. Our production would have been 200kg on average, looking at the size of those trees. But now it would be hardly 100kg per tree.