A wide variety of carbide-free mangoes and succulent jackfruit are on display and sale at the mango and jackfruit mela, which commenced at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens on Friday.
Naturally-ripened, carbide-free mango varieties ranging from Rs. 30 to Rs. 80 a kg are being sold at as many as 75 stalls. However, Alphonso mangoes were priced between Rs. 50 and Rs. 80 a kg, though the given rate was Rs. 65. Jackfruit varieties being are sold for Rs. 30 for 12 pieces.
“About 1,800 hectares of mangoes were destroyed in Karnataka this year leading to a loss of Rs. 513 crore. The Central government has provided Rs. 82 crore as relief while the State government has provided compensation of Rs. 25,000 per hectare,” said Horticulture Minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa after inaugurating the mela.
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Farmers, mostly from Kolar, Ramanagar, Chickballapur, Chitradurga, Shimoga and Tumkur, said the size of mangoes and jackfruits had been smaller than usual due to lack of rainfall.
Krishna Bhagawan, a farmer from Kolar, said that each mango tree required around 200 litres of water and he had to depend on water supplied through tankers owing to scanty rain.
Horticulture Department Additional Director (Fruits) R. Jayaprakash said the department is expecting sales of about 700 to 800 metric tonnes this time. The mango production during the current season was an estimated 3.5 lakh tonnes.
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Sadanand, a customer, said, “I was keen on visiting the mela as there are so many varieties under one roof but was disappointed with the prices.”
While the exhibition will be on till May 30, the mela will continue till June 15.