BENGALURU : Mango growers in Karnataka are hit by a double whammy this year — low yield and a dramatic surge in air freight charges.

The crisis in the Middle East is impacting the mango business. Exporting the fruit has become more challenging as slots are difficult to come by and freight rates are fluctuating wildly. 

The Israel-Palestine crisis, and subsequent developments in Iran, have forced ships to avoid the crucial Red Sea trade route, forcing businesses to take to air routes. As a result, the demand has increased and pushed up the . . .