THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s fast emerging as the sweetest event in the capital city. Come May, it’s going to be golden mango season once again at Kanakakkunnu. The best mango varieties grown across the country will be displayed and sold at this year’s edition of the Mango Fest beginning on May 18.
Organised by the State Horticulture Mission, the Mango Fest will be a ten-day affair. Size-wise, Mango Fest-2012 will be double the size of its 2011 predecessor, Mission director Dr K Prathapan said. ‘’Last year, the fest was held for eight days. Around 40 tonnes of mango were sold. Hearing about the event’s success, more mango growers have decided to participate this time,’’ he said.
‘’Besides, this year there has been a bumper yield nationwide in mangoes, which also will contribute to enthusiastic participation,’’ he said.
All the sweetest varieties of the golden fruit which charmed men like Babur and Kalidasa will find space in the fest; from North India, there will be Daseri and Imam Pasand and the famed varieties of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra to name a few. Andhra Pradesh will have on display varieties such as Kalapadi and the golden-hued Banganapalli, which has in recent years won over mango lovers in Kerala.
Neighbouring Tamil Nadu will contribute varieties like Panchavarnam and Sindoor, two varieties that have already found a place in the roadside stalls. Kerala varieties also will be on prominent display at the ten-day expo; Kottoorkonam from southern Thiruvananthapuram and the Muthalamada varieties, among others.
‘’Kerala also had a reasonable mango yield this time as the rain did not spoil the flowering-to-fruit process,’’ Prathapan said.
Various agencies such as the Mango Growers’ Association, the Agro-Industries Corporation and the Kerala State Horticultural Products Development Corporation (HORTICORP) will be associating with the fest.