Koppal Mango Mela opens with 200 varieties, Miyazaki steals the show

Koppal: The 10th edition of the Koppal Mango Mela, organised by the horticulture department, began on Tuesday at the office premises of the joint director of horticulture in Koppal and will continue till May 22.

Mango cultivation in Koppal district has crossed 6,500 hectares, with Kesar emerging as the most sought-after variety. At the mela, over 100 farmers have set up registered stalls, showcasing and selling more than 200 mango varieties along with a range of value-added products.

Other varieties on display include Dasheri, Totapuri, Mallika, Beneshan, Sindhuri, Imam Pasand, Rasapuri, Swarnarekha, Apoosu and Punasa.

A major attraction this year is the Miyazaki mango, regarded as one of the world’s costliest varieties. While it is priced at around ₹2.5 lakh per kg in international markets, farmers cultivating the Japanese variety in Koppal are offering it for ₹2,500 to ₹3,000 per kg. Officials said several customers have already paid advances to purchase the fruit.

The event also features mango seekarane, pickles prepared and packed by farmers, processed mango products, and a photo exhibition tracing the journey of the mango mela from 2016 to 2026.

Officials said more than 30 free stalls have been provided to farmers, while over 100 indigenous and foreign mango varieties are being showcased. More than 10 horticulture farmer producer companies and district HOPCOMS units are participating.

The horticulture department is also demonstrating scientific fruit-ripening methods developed by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru. Farmers are being introduced to ‘en-ripe’ punch-hole pouches, which naturally ripen 10 kg of mangoes within 48 hours using ethylene.

“Koppal district’s horticulture sector is expanding every year and mango cultivation has crossed 6,500 hectares. The mela is being organised to help farmers directly market quality fruits to consumers at reasonable prices,” said Krishna C Ukkund, joint director of horticulture, Koppal.

MP K Rajasekhar Hitnal, MLC Hemalatha Nayak, deputy commissioner Suresh B Itnal, CEO Varnit Negi and several other officials visited the mela.