Mango Mela's Duration Cut Short as Yield Takes a Hit

Bengaluru's much-awaited annual 'Mango Mela' held at Lalbagh Botanical Garden is set to kick off in the last week of May. However, this year there is a change in the schedule. The mela, which typically lasts for 10-15 days, will be shortened to only five to seven days, as confirmed by officials from the Horticulture Department.

The decision to reduce the duration of the Mango Mela stems from several factors, including a lower yield of mangoes this season. Farmers have expressed their disappointment, alleging that the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL) officials cited insufficient funds as the reason behind the shorter event.

Rajender Kumar Kataria, the Principal Secretary of the Horticulture Department, provided an explanation stating that around 50% of the mangoes produced in the Ramanagara region have already been sold in the market. He further mentioned that the mangoes from Kolar would be arriving sometime between the last week of this month and the second week of the following month. In light of the reduced output this year, a decision has been made to shorten the duration of the mela to a period of five to seven days. Additionally, he added that the extension of the mela for a few more days would depend on the demand.

Apart from the main Mango Mela, district-level melas are also expected to commence towards the end of May. Kataria acknowledged that the scheduling and organization of the mela were hampered by officials being occupied with election duties. Additionally, in response to a request from the Uttar Pradesh Mango Federation, mango growers from that state will be participating in the Bengaluru Mango Mela to sell their produce. Kataria clarified that the dates of their arrival are yet to be determined, but their varieties of mangoes will differ from those grown by local farmers.

However, mango farmers from Ramanagara, Channapatna, and other areas expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming that the department focuses primarily on meeting the market demands of Kolar farmers.  Dharanish Kumar, the president of the Kanakapura and Chanpatna Mango Growers' Association, expressed his concerns, questioning the rationale behind organizing melas despite the majority of mango output coming from Kolar. He stated that they have not received any satisfactory answers regarding this matter.

He further mentioned that they have already sold 50-60% of their produce and, for the remaining mangoes, it is more advantageous for them to sell them in Bengaluru due to the larger customer base, rather than making the trip to Madikeri for the mela.