NT growers look to bumper season

TERRITORY mango growers are looking forward to another bumper season as new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the value of the crop more than doubled in 2015-16

TERRITORY mango growers are looking forward to another bumper season as new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the value of the crop more than doubled in 2015-16.

The data, released on Friday, shows mango production increased 48 per cent by volume, for a total value of $31.7 million for the year.

Northern Territory Mango Industry Association president Leo Skliros said production in 2015/16 was boosted by a lengthy picking period.

He said the figures seemed “slightly exaggerated”, but said prices were consistently high during 2015/16.

“It was a very long season with high prices because of the fact it was spread over a long period,” he said.

Last season was less productive.

Only 3-5 per cent of mangoes came off in early harvest, compared to up to 30 per cent in previous years.

“There was a glut last season because there was no real early market,” he said.

But he said producers were optimistic things would pick up again and exceed 2015 production. Mr Skliros said Kensington Pride harvest would start in the Territory in August. Picking of Asian and green mangoes has already begun.

Mangoes should make their way to supermarkets and shops by the end of October. Quality looked strong, Mr Skliros said.

“The sky isn’t looking great at the moment but ... as long as we keep the rain away from the fruit we should be looking at good quality.”

The NT’s agricultural output for 2015/16 was boosted by a strong performance by the beef industry.

The Territory’s beef cattle herd increased by 6 per cent, in contrast to the southern states where the count fell.

“The total number of beef cattle increased by 133,191 head with favourable conditions in the NT contributing to the earlier than anticipated restocking of beef cattle herds,” ABS Environment and Agriculture Statistics director Lauren Binns said. “The herd increase in the Northern Territory helped offset the fall in the number national beef cattle which fell by 1 per cent, to 22.3 million at 30 June 2016.”

Territory irrigation water use fell 37 per cent.