With an exceptional mango yield this season, Belagavi district is celebrating with a vibrant three-day Mango Mela, inaugurated on Saturday by MLA Asif (Raju) Sait at Hume Park. The event also features a honey farming products expo.
Organised by the Horticulture Department, the mela includes 22 stalls, with 16 reserved for local growers, 2 for outside districts, and 4 for mango traders from Maharashtra. Mangoes grown across 3,300 hectares in the district—mainly in Kittur, Khanapur, Bailhongal, and Hukkeri—have been showcased, boasting an average yield of 8–10 tonnes per hectare.
Despite a statewide decline in mango production, Belagavi defied the trend due to expanding cultivation areas and effective crop protection measures. The market features varieties like Alphonso, Pyri, Rasapuri, and Kesar, with prices ranging from ₹350 to ₹750 per dozen. As more produce arrives, prices are gradually dipping, benefiting buyers.
Mangoes from Ratnagiri, Konkan, and Pandharpur have also entered the Belagavi markets. Farmers like Vitthal (Khanapur) and Parashuram (Hukkeri) highlighted the region’s increasing prominence, with Belagavi mangoes gaining preference even in Goa’s fruit fairs.
Deputy Director Mahantesh Murgod emphasized the mela’s goal: to empower farmers, promote the Belagavi Maavu brand, and encourage entrepreneurship. Most of the fruit—about 90%—is Alphonso, harvested and ripened naturally, aligning with the district’s vision for clean and sustainable farming.
Read also: