This year's prolonged winter is likely to affect mango production in the State, according to the agriculture department. This is because the peak season of mangoes is expected to coincide with the onset of monsoon as the flowering of trees did not happen on time. Due to the extended winter, the peak season will most probably be late by one or two weeks. Director of Agriculture Mr S S P Tendulkar, speaking to Herald on Tuesday confirmed that flowering has been late this season. Under normal conditions mango trees start flowering in the month of December and January but this year it has extended till March. First week of May is normally a peak season of mango when fruit markets in the State get inundated with delicious mangoes of all sizes. However, late flowering will spoil the show, it is feared. The yield will get infested with fruit flies if the skies open up, said S P Singh, Principal Scientist, in-charge of Horticulture, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Old Goa. WHAT'S THE ANSWER: Tendulkar said they recommend farmers to use Carbendazim, a fungicide to contain rotting of fruit during rains. Goa's mango production is around 40000 metric ton and it has not increased nor decreased in the last few years. Mancurad, Hillario, Mussarad (Bardez) and Mussarad (Salcete), Cota and Utgo are popular varieties grown in Goa but they are alternate fruit bearing varieties. Hybrid varieties such as Amrapali, Sindhu, Anmol, Aruna, and Arca Punneet are also being experimented in Goa, he said.