India, Feb. 23 -- Traditional beliefs saymango flowering brings unpredictable rainfall; rising temperatures have a dominant role to play, say experts

An unusual development has left the farmers in several parts of India in a bind: Mango trees have started bearing flowers in abundance, and they fear the phenomenon would entail stormy weather and heavy rainfall. This, according to them, is what traditional knowledge tells them.

"Our elders fear that mango flowering brings unpredictable rainfall," Rajesh Krishnan, chief executive, Thirunelly Agri Producer Co, Wayanad, Kerala, told Down To Earth .

The last time there was such flowering in Kerala was in 2018, when the state witnessed its worst floods in a century.

"Back then, we laughed at...