VIJAYAWADA: Kuppala Rama Gopala Krishna, a 24-year-old mango farmer from Vadlamanu village in Agiripalli mandal of Krishna district, has created a record by growing 18 different varieties of mangoes on a single tree in his seven-acre-farm.
His feat is not only attracting local farmers, but has also drawn the attention of government officials. Impressed by the innovation, Krishna District Collector B Lakshmikantham paid a visit to Gopala Krishna’s mango farm, and even felicitated the young farmer for his experimenting spirit.
State horticulture officials have confirmed that growing 18 varieties on a single tree is in deed an achievement.
In late 2015, when Kuppala Rama Gopala Krishna’s mango farm did not give encouraging yield, many advised him to axe all his trees down. But, Gopala Krishna, a native of Vadlamanu village in Agiripalli mandal of Krishna district, had other plans.
He remembered once being taught about grafting -- a horticulture technique where tissues of different plants are joined so as to have them grown together. The technique inspired him so much that he decided to graft different varieties of mangoes in his farm. “When I shared my plan with my friends, they laughed at me,” the 24-year-old recalls. Cut to 2018, Gopala Krishna has created a wonder by growing 18 varieties of the ‘king of the fruits’ on a single tree. “Now, I get invited by farmers from nearby villages to guide them in emulating my techniques,” the mango man of Andhra Pradesh says with a glee in his voice.
The State horticulture officials have confirmed that growing 18 varieties on a single tree is indeed an achievement. “Normally, two-three varieties are grafted together. Growing 18 varieties is definitely a feat,” N Sujatha, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Krishna district, said.
It all began when Gopala Krishna, also known as Ravi among the people who know him, got a poor yield of Chinna Rasalu, Banginapalli and Collector mangoes in his seven-acre farm. “We began mango cultivation in 2010, and started getting the yield from 2014. The yield was poor for the first two years and our produce was also not marketable. My family and friends wanted to cut down all the 350 trees and start afresh. But by then, we had already spent five years from our lives, besides lakhs of rupees, in raising the trees,” he pauses, and adds, “I remembered someone discussing grafting. That was when I decided to experiment.” Gopala Krishna had finished his Class X a few years ago and immediately moved to farming.
On his father’s insistence, he got himself recently enrolled in BCom course.
While it is normal for mango cultivators to graft one or two varieties of the fruit, Gopala Krishna grafted 23 different varieties. “Of the 23, I got 18 varieties of the fruit on just one tree this year,” the young mango grower says.
Gopala Krishna’s farm is not only free from diseases, thanks to the Zero Budget Natural Farming techniques he uses, but also has better yield than those of his peers. “We have water problem. Yet, I was able to get a better yield than my friends. That too, with more variety,” he observes. The fruits he has grown are now exported to different States in India. “I also got offers from abroad,” he says with pride.
The 24-year-old farmer’s aim is to make all the trees in his farm bear different types of mangoes. “Now, I have only one tree with 18 varieties,” he adds.
“Had I followed my friends’ advice to axe my trees down, I wouldn’t have been able to experiment. The same friends now started asking me to guide them,” he remarks.
While Gopala Krishna certainly enjoys all the attention he is getting, he also thanked the local agriculture and horticulture officials for encouraging him. “Their support has been invaluable. I will now inform the techniques to other farmers who are interested to experiment,” he concludes.
Fun fact:
Haji Kalimullah Khan from Malihabad in Uttar Pradesh is known as Mango Man of India for growing over 300 varieties of mangoes on a single tree. This feat earned him Padma Shri in 2008