However, North India has been hit by high temperatures this year, which hit earlier than usual, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of small farmers who grow the fruit and millions of people who consume it.
The heatwave is an example of the difficulties India faces in shielding food security as climate change worsens. At the same time, it raises the bar in the effort to bring agricultural production up to international standards and feed a growing population of nearly 1.4 billion people.
The risks of a future with even higher temperatures are visible on a small farm in Malihabad, an area in the north of the country where mangoes are grown and Mohammed Aslam has about 500 trees. A few months ago, his trees were extremely healthy, the dark green leaves glowing above the well-watered soil and the branches bearing perfect bouquets of white flowers. India experienced the hottest March in 122 years, as long as it is kept historical, with temperatures averaging nearly 33 degrees Celsius and reaching up to 40 degrees. The mango flowers wilted. Virtually none of Mr Aslam's trees, which span 15 acres, produced mangoes. In a normal year, they would have produced more than 11,000 pounds of fruit.
The intense heat of March turned into the hottest April in 50 years and then continued into May. Scientists, in a study published on May 23, said the chances of such a heat wave in India had increased by at least 30 times since the 19th century.
The ideal temperature for mango trees to grow is about 25 degrees Celsius, said Dheeraj Kumar Tiwari, a scientist at a university of agriculture in Uttar Pradesh.
India isthe world's largest producer of mangoes, contributing about 50 percent of the global crop. Much of the production is consumed domestically, but the country also exports tens of millions of dollars worth of mangoes every year. Difficulties raised by the pandemic led to a drop in deliveries of almost 50% last year. The country's largest export organization had hoped that this year would change the landscape. Instead, extreme weather hit crops not only in the north but also in the south, where heavy rainfall occurred.
In Malihabad, home to families who have grown the fruit for generations, farmers gathered to voice their concerns. Nadeem Ahmad walked to his roadside farm. He pointed to the trees, which would normally be full of fruit at this time of year. "I will have to start cutting down these trees if the same situation continues."
Mr Aslam said he was living in "tension" because of a harvest that was barely 5% of previous years. His 14-year-old son said he did not want to take over the family business.
Mr Aslam said difficulties had forced him to postpone his daughter's wedding.
"No mangoes, no life," he said.
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