Rare mango varieties vanish in north Andhra over poor market potential

Visakhapatnam: Some of the rare mango varieties are slowly disappearing in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh due to a lack of market and weak commercial potential. These rare mango varieties were not grown in large quantities as many mango growers gradually switched to high-demand varieties.The rare mango varieties like Dondakayamanu, Papa Raju Guava, Rajamanu, Baramasi, Sannakulu, Nallaraju, Panchadarlamanu, Jilledurasalu, Rasagulikalu, Badharakhandi, Irasalu and Mettavalasa Peechu, known for their unique and nutritional value for decades, have become increasingly scarce in recent years.These mangoes were not grown in large quantities, but they were popular for their distinctive flavour. However, since they are not commercially viable, many mango growers in parts of the Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalle and Parvathipuram Manyam districts in the north Andhra Pradesh region gradually switched to high-demand varieties like Banganapalle (popular as Banginapalli), Pedda Rasalu, Chinna Rasalu, Cheruku Rasalu, Totapuri and a few other varieties of mango, said Appaji, an expert and one of the organisers of the mango melas in the region.Andhra Pradesh was one of the largest producers of mango in the country, as mango is grown in over 3.75 lakh hectares in the state, with an estimated production of around 45 to 50 lakh tonnes. However, not a single new variety was added to the state's mango basket in the past few decades, and some rare mango varieties were slowly disappearing in parts of the state.Although there are wide varieties of mangoes, most people prefer the Banginapalli variety due to its longer shelf life and rich flavour. This preference has increased the demand for Banginapalli mangoes in both local and international markets.The rare mango varieties in the north Andhra region are slowly being pushed out of our orchards as these fetch little revenue. If these rare mango varieties are not preserved, they face a high risk of extinction. We will lose some truly unique breeds of mangoes forever, said Venkatesh, a mango orchard owner in the Vizianagaram region.The rare mango varieties are seen once a year during the annual mango festival in the Vizag region. There were no collaborative efforts to preserve and propagate these vanishing mango breeds through scientific interventions. The combination of declining commercial interest and rising real estate value was the prime factor for the disappearing mango varieties in the region, said V Ganesh, a mango lover in Vizag.