Darbhanga: The advent of spring and blooming of flowers on mango trees has made Darbhanga farmers happy, as they foresee a good mango yield ahead.

"This year we're happy with the excellent flowers on the trees," said Ramesh Mandal, a mango farmer. "If the weather conditions are smooth, the yield will certainly go up this year. We give a lot of time and labour to mango farming, but at the end of the day it all boils down to weather. But so far the start is admirable."

"The major varieties of mangoes in the district are Maldah, Krishnabhog, Sipiya, Dussehri, Bijju and Zardalu," assistant director of horticulture in Darbhanga, Kailash Mahto, said. "The climate is favourable thus far, but most of the time the yield is marred by dust storms".

He said survival of even over 25 per cent of blooming mango flowers can add a lot to the farmers. "They have already started taking extensive planning and care so that mangoes grow properly," he said.

Mahto suggested that the farmers contact field-level agriculture officers in order to control attacks by hoppers and other pests on mango flowers.