The National Mango Festival at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) in Raipur has put on display more than 250 varieties of mangoes, including rare local and imported cultivars. The Chhattisgarh government is promoting the event as a platform to boost value addition, farmer incomes, and agri-entrepreneurship.
Governor Inaugurates Festival
Governor Ramen Deka inaugurated the festival on Friday, highlighting India's global leadership in mango production with over 1,000 varieties. He urged Chhattisgarh's growers to build a distinct identity through high-quality local varieties, pointing to Bastar, Kondagaon, Kanker, and Surguja as high-potential mango belts. Deka noted that festivals and exhibitions help farmers exchange advanced practices, new varieties, and innovations. He also flagged opportunities for women self-help groups, entrepreneurship, and mango tourism in the state.
The governor called for a stronger focus on value addition and asked IGKV and the Chhattisgarh Rajya Beej Evam Krishi Vikas Nigam to work together. He stressed eco-friendly practices, water conservation, and rainwater harvesting, and reiterated the appeal to plant a tree in the name of one's mother.
Chief Minister Highlights Mango's Cultural Significance
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who presided over the inauguration, described mango as the king of fruits and highlighted its cultural use in rituals through leaves and wood. He noted that the exhibition ranges from berry-sized mangoes to large-fruited varieties such as Hathijhul from Bijapur. Sai linked mango cultivation to the state's goal of doubling farmers' income, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision.
IGKV Vice-Chancellor on Festival Success
IGKV Vice-Chancellor Dr. Girish Chandel stated that the university, with state support, has been organizing the festival at scale for the past three years, drawing thousands of visitors. He revealed that farmers sold mango saplings and fruits worth about Rs 4 lakh during last year's event and expressed confidence of higher participation and sales this year.
Festival Details and Competitions
The festival runs from May 29 to 31 and includes competitions across commercial, hybrid, special, and exotic categories. Commercial entries include Dashahri, Langda, Bombay Green, Chausa, Malda, Himsagar, Sundarja, Kesar, Alphonso, Totapari, Neelam, Baiganphalli, Pairi, Sindoori, and Fazli. Hybrid varieties include Mallika, Amrapali, Pusa Arunima, Ambika, Ratna, Sindhu, and Arka Puneet. Special varieties feature Hathijhul, Noorjahan, Laddu, and Gulab Khas, while exotic entries include Miyazaki, Tommy Atkins, and Golden Nuggets.
