Annual Mango Mela to begin in Bengaluru on May 7

AFTER a delay this year due to heat-induced disruptions to the harvest, the Horticulture Department, along with the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (Mango Board), will host the annual Mango Mela in the city from May 7, reports The Hindu. 

The first mela will be held at Cubbon Park from May 7, with mangoes from Bengaluru South (Ramanagara), Tumakuru and Dharwad, as produce from these districts arrives early in the season.

This will be followed by another mela at Lalbagh from May 20, featuring mangoes from Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Belagavi and other districts, Vedamurthy T.R., Managing Director of the Mango Board, told The Hindu. The annual fair at Lalbagh will also host a variety of jackfruit. 

Delay due to heat

This season, the heat has not only delayed the harvest but also drastically reduced the yield. While farmers were anticipating a surplus this year, the yield is now expected to be around 11 lakh tonnes, compared to the usual 16 lakh tonnes cultivated across 1.5 lakh hectares, as per the board.  

The officials from the board added that the flowering had started under favourable conditions, but later sudden high temperatures led to patchy fruit setting and development, leading to fruit drop, smaller fruit, lower yield, and also pushed back harvesting timelines. 

Mr. Vedamurthy added that up to 40 free stalls will be provided to farmers at Cubbon Park from May 7 to May 20, while around 120–130 stalls will be set up at Lalbagh. The annual fair at Lalbagh will begin on May 20 and continue for a month. 

Mango mela to be shortened to 5-7 days this time owing to decreased yield  

While farmers can expect better prices this year due to the sharp drop in yield, growers of the Totapuri variety, mostly from Kolar district, are likely to face losses. “Totapuri mangoes are usually exported to pulp industries in other countries. However, owing to the ongoing tensions in West Asia, exports are likely to be disrupted if the situation does not ease by July,” Mr. Vedamurthy said, adding that close to 1,500 tonnes of Totapuri mangoes are generally exported each season. 

Moreover, Alphonso (Badami) mangoes, which are usually the most in demand, have been particularly affected this year, the official said, adding that the variety usually arrive in the market by mid-April, but the heat delayed harvesting and reduced the yield. This is likely to drive up prices, with rates expected to touch ₹250 per kg.