After a funding crunch nearly derailed it, the much-awaited 16th edition of the Mango Mela will be held from May 13 to 17 at the Horticulture Department office on Railway Station Road, Dharwad. District in-charge minister Santosh Lad will inaugurate the event on May 13 at 11 a.m.

Known for its premium Alphonso variety, locally dubbed ‘Dharwad Aapus’, the region boasts over 25,000 hectares of mango cultivation. According to Horticulture Deputy Director K.C. Bhadrannavar, Dharwad ranks second only to Ratnagiri in Alphonso mango quality. Despite this, unpredictable weather has halved this year’s projected 1.5 lakh quintal yield, leading to soaring prices—Rs 700 per dozen in some markets.

To counter the flood of chemically-ripened mangoes in retail shops, the mela brings together over 40 organic growers, offering naturally-ripened Alphonso, Kalmi, Badami, Kesari, Mallika, and Neelam varieties. The event aims to ensure fair pricing for farmers and authentic taste for consumers.

The mela also seeks to raise awareness about lease exploitation, where external traders lease groves cheaply before the season, leaving local farmers at a loss. By selling directly, farmers can reclaim value for their premium produce.

Notably, mango has been chosen under the ‘One District, One Product’ scheme. A proposal has been submitted to the Centre for funds to establish a dedicated mango market and processing unit at Itigatti on the Hubballi-Dharwad bypass.

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