20 varieties to be available at mango mela

Would to like to buy naturally-ripened juicy mangoes and jackfruit of varied varieties? Then don’t miss to visit Curzon Park, adjacent to the Mysuru Palace, the venue of third edition of the four-day Mango and Jackfruit Mela, beginning on Thursday.

What’s special about this year’s fest is that the stalls put up by the growers from Mysuru, Chamarajnagar, Bengaluru rural, Ramanagaram and Chickballapur will be open between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. to facilitate more footfalls.

The fest gives an avenue for the growers to sell their produce directly to the consumers. This way, it will be a win-win situation for both, according to horticulture authorities.

Thirty stalls had been put up to sell popular and traditional varieties of mangoes and jackfruit.

“This year, we expect to sell around 100 tonnes of mangoes. About 60 tonnes of mangoes have been sold in a span of three days last year. We are expecting more footfalls this time,” said Deputy Director of Horticulture H.M. Nagaraj.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Nagaraj said 25 mango growers and four jackfruit growers had already confirmed their participation in the mela. Only naturally-ripened mango varieties which have wide acceptance are allowed at the mela, he added.

Karnataka State Mango Marketing and Development Board and the Department of Horticulture have jointly organised the mela that will conclude on May 24.

Over 20 varieties of mango will be available.

Mango is grown in over 4,020 hectares in Mysuru district. Last year’s production was 39,139 tonnes. Hunsur is the top mango producer in the district with around 16,148 tonnes.