Mangaluru : The state level mango and jackfruit mela, an exhibition cum sale of mangoes and jackfruits was inaugurated at Kadri Park on May 19 by DK District in-charge Minister Ramanatha Rai. The event is organised by the Department of Horticulture and Agriculture and State Mango Development Board.

A week-long mango and jackfruit mela is a direct interface between growers and consumers.

Speaking on the occasion, L. Gopalakrishna, chairman, Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Ltd., said that mango growers were selling naturally-ripened fruits to consumers. They are free of calcium carbide used by many middlemen and traders in the open market for artificially ripening mangoes. If there was a good response from consumers, the mela would be extended for some more days, he said.

Mr. Gopalakrishna said that mango growers in the mela were selling the fruits at a lower cost than the open market price. If a badami mango cost ₹100 per kg in the open market the growers in mela are selling it for ₹85 per kg.

Stating that two lakh hectares are under mango cultivation in the State, he urged consumers in Mangaluru to purchase fruits in the mela to encourage farmers.

The chairman said that mango production in the State has fallen this year by 20% owing to less rainfall and the recent unseasonal rain in the mango growing districts of Kolar, Chickballapur and Ramanagaram districts.

This year’s production has been estimated between 8 lakh tonnes and 10 lakh tonnes from 13 lakh tonnes to 14 lakh tonnes last year.

Different varieties of mangoes are available in the mela.

Among the jackfruit varieties included in the display are PLR-1, Panrutti, Raja Rudrakshi, Muliya Rudrakshi, Mogarnadu, Prashanthi, Sampige and the like.

The Department of Horticulture and Krishi Vignana Kendra are the co-sponsors of the mela.

Ivan D’Souza, MLC and Chief Whip of State Legislative Council and many others were present