NICOLE SUARES
The king has finally arrived! The markets glow in the mango-yellow hues of the summer latecomer that otherwise makes its annual appearance around April. A visible sign of climate change.
Along with a delay in the flowering cycle, Director of Agriculture, Nevil Alphonso, notes a shocking 40 per cent drop in mango production. He says, “Due to climatic changes, November saw unseasonal rains, and December wasn't that cold, either. It delayed the flowering.”
To promote mango cultivation and identify and maintain the data of the local varieties, the Department of Agriculture hosted the third Mango Show 2024 at Kala Academy, Panjim, recently.
The event featured around 1,000 entries from mango growers across the state.
Visitors were able to see 40 to 50 varieties, including local heritage types such as Mancurad, Mossurad (Salcette), a selection of different small Ghontam, Colaço, Furtado, Xavier, Fernandin and the famous Alphonso, named after the Portuguese India Viceroy, Alfonso de Albuquerque.
Visitors were able to see 40 to 50 varieties, including local heritage types such as Mancurad, Mossurad (Salcette), a selection of different small Ghontam, Colaço, Furtado, Xavier, Fernandin and the famous Alphonso, named after the Portuguese India Viceroy, Alfonso de Albuquerque.
There were also exotic varieties like Kent, Maya, Tom Atkins; hybrids like Ratna, Sindhu, Mallika and Amrapali, along with other Indian varieties like Totapuri and Neelam. In addition to fresh mangoes, the event showcased 35 different value-added products from 350 participants.
The event also disseminated vital information about technology and schemes to farmers.
One of the competition’s winners, Jyoti D’Souza from Vaddem-Socorro, says, “I love participating in such culinary contests and fests. The recipe for my second prize-winning Aam Panna was my original recipe. I was also supported by my family members, who encouraged me to participate, although I had a hectic work schedule. So, I am grateful to them.”
Alphonso discusses the impact of the festival, emphasising awareness about various technologies for mango cultivation.
There were also exotic varieties like Kent, Maya, Tom Atkins; hybrids like Ratna, Sindhu, Mallika and Amrapali, along with other Indian varieties like Totapuri and Neelam.
He says, “Farmers were convinced of the need for processing mangoes, which do not have table purpose demand. Those types can be utilised for making value-added products which can give a remunerative price.”
To encourage value-addition, Alphonso says mango processing units will be established so that those varieties that do not have good demand in the market can be processed.
Alphonso adds that mango has a bright future in Goa. However, the reluctance of farmers to grow it as a commercial crop hinders its proliferation.
“Farmers either opt for coconut or cashew plantations in Goa. Thankfully, with the intervention of the government, we devised a scheme to promote the Mancurad variety. We offer a subsidy of up to 2 lakh per hectare for commercial mango plantation in hilly areas,” he explains.
As a positive outcome of the subsidy, 30 to 40 farmers came forward to take up new grafts.
Alphonso adds that mango has a bright future in Goa. However, the reluctance of farmers to grow it as a commercial crop hinders its proliferation.
Another initiative is the Mango Gene Bank at the government agriculture farm at Codar, Ponda, KVK Farm at Chinchinim, Salcete and ICAR farm at Ela, Old Goa.
With various initiatives in the pipeline, it’s a bright future for the king of fruits in Goa.
