KARWAR:A popular variety of wild mango — Appe Midi (tender mangoes widely used to make pickles) — is relished by all in the region. However, this year people are forced to shell out more to buy these mangoes because of shortage in supply.
In a normal year, 100 pieces of Appe Midi cost between Rs 50 and Rs 75 in the Karwar market. But this year, residents are paying almost Rs 300 for 100 pieces. While a few vendors point to a decrease in production as the reason for the shortage, a few consumers blame it on artificial scarcity created by middlemen.
Appe Midi has always been in demand for its unique qualities. The mouth-watering taste and aroma are the factors that make this variety popular in India and abroad, so much so that the United Nations Organisation had recently funded a research on the fruit.
Appe Midi trees are grown on the riverbanks in the forests of Uttara Kannada, Sagar and Ripponpet in Shivamogga district, Chikkamagaluru, and Khanapur in Belagavi district. Some of the popular varieties of Appe Midi are Anant Bhatta Appe, Bheemanakone Kenchappe, Bheemanakone Appe, Karpoora Appe, Malanji Appe and Adderi Jeerige. Appe Midi trees are also grown in evergreen forests along Aghanashini, Bedti and Sharavati rivers. Each tree yields about 10,000 to 15,000 midis.
Anant Hegde Ashisara, former chairman of the Western Ghats Task Force, said the Appe Midi trees are mainly riverine species. He attributed the decrease in production of Appe Midi to rampant felling of these trees. Also illegal excavation of sand is contributing to the problem.
Ashisara said the exact data regarding the quantity of Appe Midi produced cannot be ascertained as it is a forest product.
However, he said in the Malnad region alone the early turnover of pickle factories is about Rs 1,000 crore. This wild variety of tender mango retains it crispiness even after years of being in pickled condition.
Specialists in Sirsi- based forestry college say that this is possible due to the high acidic content in these mangoes.