Vol. 9, Issue 7, Part T (2025)

Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) holds a prominent place among citrus fruits cultivated in India, especially in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra. Despite its economic importance, the crop suffers substantial yield and income losses due to fruit drop, which occurs as a result of various biotic, abiotic, and management-related factors. This study aims to identify the major causes of fruit drop, estimate associated production and economic losses, and analyze the impact of adopting recommended practices to control fruit drop given by the Dr. P.D.K.V, Akola in Mandarin on reducing these losses.

The research was conducted in three major mandarin-growing tehsils of Nagpur district Katol, Narkhed, and Kalmeshwar using primary data collected from 120 growers, equally divided into adopters and non-adopters. The dropping of fruits was calculated from collected data and the analyzed data is presented in tabular form with the help of averages, percentages etc. Results revealed that adopters experienced lower production losses (35.41 q/ha) and economic losses (₹74,391.09/ha) compared to non-adopters, who faced higher production losses (51.24 q/ha) and economic losses (₹1, 22,360.09/ha). Adoption led to a 30.89 percent decrease in fruit drop and a 44.90 percent decrease in economic losses, with a 42.10 percent increase in productivity over non-adopters. The key constraints to adoption of fruit drop practices included lack of awareness about the practices (93.33 percent), limited access to advisory services (86.66 percent), and high cost of implementation (75.00 percent). Growers expressed the need for regular technical guidance, compensation for losses, and processing avenues for dropped fruits. It is observed from the findings that the minimization of fruit drop and enhancing profitability in mandarin cultivation, highlighting the need for focused extension efforts, financial support mechanisms, and better dissemination of recommended practices.