What began as a passion for clean, home-grown food has turned into an extraordinary success story for Joseph Lobo, a terrace farmer from Udupi who cultivates one of the world’s most expensive mango varieties — the Miyazaki mango.
Known globally for its premium quality and distinctive taste, the Miyazaki mango from Japan can fetch between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per kg in international markets. Lobo, however, says he was unaware of its high value when his plant first yielded fruit.
“I knew it was rare, but we consumed the first yield without realising its worth,” he says.
From village roots to terrace farming
Born into a farming family, Lobo grew up in a small village in Udupi. When family land became inaccessible due to disputes, he decided to pursue his dream through terrace farming.
Today, his modest terrace hosts over 200 varieties of plants, including fruits and flowers. He grows mulberry, chikoo, mangoes and even 32 jasmine plants, three using hydroponic methods.
Determined to avoid chemical contamination, Lobo relies entirely on organic techniques. His homemade nutrient mixture contains cow dung, sheep manure, curd and vegetable waste enriched with nine essential minerals. For pest control, he uses neem oil spray instead of chemical insecticides.
Cultivating Japan’s prized mango
Despite Miyazaki mangoes typically requiring controlled environments such as polyhouses in Japan, Lobo successfully grew them using a simple soil mix — 50 percent organic mixture and 50 percent soil in grow bags.
The plant took three-and-a-half years to bear fruit. Since media coverage highlighted its value, Lobo has received numerous enquiries from gardening enthusiasts. While he does not plan to sell the fruit commercially, he has begun selling saplings at Rs 2,500 each.
“I grow it for my family and friends,” he says, adding that passion, not profit, drives his farming journey.