Love mangoes? Who doesn’t! And if you are perhaps looking for one-stop-shop for every variety of King of fruits, then the ongoing Mango Mela - 2013 at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds should be your next destintion.
From Banganpalli to Chinna Rasalu, Pedda Rasalu, Cheruku Rasalu, Kesari, Dasheri, Himayath, Alphonsa and Mallika all available under one roof, the 25 stalls at the mela prove to be a paradise for mango maniacs.
Organised by the Horticulture department, the mela aims at encouraging small sector farmers. Giving mango farmers a sigh of relief amidst the reduced yield this season, which was caused by the unsuitable weather conditions, the mela has more to offer.
The stalls were run by farmers from across different districts of the Telengana region. However, the mangoes on sale at the exhibition were ripened in ethylene chambers, established all over the state. The posibility of unripened mangoes, ripened through carbide is very high this season because of the unexpected rainfall. But, the mela presents Hyderabadis a healthier way to indulge in the king of fruits, by ensuring the sale of mangoes that are ripened through Ethylene only. Above all, the mela satisfies consumers with a lesser price in comparison to the higher rate in local markets, as it cuts down on the price rise due to the involvement of middlemen.
The objective behind hosting this mango fest is to also bring awareness among farmers, consumers and general public about the harmful effects of use of Calcium Carbide for ripening of fruits. Considering the climatic imbalances in this season, horticulture department has arranged a well equipped cold storage facility in LB Nagar for the farmers. It provides subsidized transportation and packaging facility as well.
A stall with fresh fruit ice creams by Twister, an ice cream company is a special attraction. A blend of flavours from mango, papaya to custard apple, among other fruits are processed and ready to be served in just about four seconds.
Farmers consider this platform without intermediaries as a great advantage.”Brokers give us only `20 to 22 for a kilogram. They also deduct the price of one quintal from a tonne, tagging it as damage. Here, we get `40 for a kilogram, which is double the earlier price and a benefit to us,” said another farmer Prithvi, a young farmer from the Jagathyal, Kareemnagar district.
The first and second days of exhibition proved to be frutiful for the farmers, while a few complained that the third day was relatively slow. “I managed to sell only about two quintals,” said Ravikumar, a farmer from Mehaboobabad, Godavary district.
The Mango Mela - 2013 will be on at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds till May 16.