Internationally renowned kite artist Sarvesh Rao has taken a soaring leap from the skies to the soil. Known for representing India at global kite festivals, Rao is now gaining recognition for pioneering efforts in exotic fruit cultivation at his nursery in Kuloor, Mangaluru.
Challenging traditional views about the limitations of coastal Karnataka’s soil and climate, Rao has adopted innovative grafting techniques to grow a variety of foreign fruits. By collecting scion wood—small plant shoots—during his travels and grafting them onto native rootstocks, he has successfully cultivated trees that typically don’t thrive in the region.
Among his standout successes are exotic jackfruit varieties from Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. These varieties have amazed visitors with their unique shapes and distinct flavors. But Rao’s most striking accomplishment lies in his mango collection—nine rare Thai varieties including Renosaurus, Machanok, Nam Doc Mai, Red Ivory, and Mangkhut. Remarkably, many of these mango trees are thriving and fruiting in grow bags, proving that soil depth or terrain is no barrier with the right technique.
“Full saplings are restricted for import, so I only bring back scion wood and graft them here,” Rao shared. “It allows us to grow global fruit varieties in our local environment.”
His success is drawing attention and admiration from the horticultural community, motivating others to experiment and innovate. Sarvesh Rao’s journey from kite artistry to fruit innovation is not just about plants—it’s about breaking boundaries with creativity and care.
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