Bhagalpur farmer cultivates Japan’s costliest Miyazaki Mango

Bhagalpur: The belief that the rare Japanese Miyazaki mango can be grown only under controlled conditions may no longer hold true. Ashok Choudhary, popularly known as the ‘mango man’ of Bhagalpur, has successfully cultivated the premium variety at his Madhuban farm in Maheshi-Tilakpur village under Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district.Showcasing the fruit, Choudhary said the Miyazaki mango, popularly known as the “Egg of the Sun” and often colloquially referred to as ‘Mia Gachi’ for its fiery ruby-red skin, is considered the world’s most expensive mango. Depending on quality and market demand, its price can range from Rs35,000 to over Rs1.5 lakh per kg, while individual fruits have reportedly sold for Rs3,000 to Rs10,000 in parts of India.A science graduate, Choudhary said he developed the variety using grafting technology on seed-grown mango plants and experimented with cross-pollination techniques to create several other colourful and fragrant mango varieties.Originally cultivated in Japan’s Miyazaki region, the fruit is known for its vibrant red colour, fibreless pulp and exceptionally sweet taste, with sugar content often exceeding 15%. In Japan, it is marketed under the premium brand name ‘Taiyo-no-Tamago’ (Egg of the Sun).Choudhary said the variety requires a hot, tropical and humid climate and is harvested between June and Aug in India. He added that the fruit is rich in beta-carotene, antioxidants, potassium, fibre, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium and several other essential nutrients.Miyazaki mangoes have been cultivated in Japan since the 1980s under climate-controlled greenhouse conditions. Over the years, they have gained global recognition as a luxury fruit because of their distinctive appearance, taste and rarity.“With successful cultivation now achieved in Bihar, the Miyazaki mango could open new opportunities for high-value fruit farming in the state,” Choudhary said.