MANGO FEST IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

MANGO FEST IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Prof. Molly Kurakar, Mary Kuttyaunty, Manju Sajith

Sweet Mango

Alphonsa Mango----

Alphonsa

King Mango

Salem Mango

Bengal queen

Molly Kurakar

Prof. Molly Kurakar

Flower show

Flower show

A 10-day mango festival began at the Kanakkakunnu Palace ,Thiruvananthapuram on Friday19th May,2012. The festival showcases all endemic and exotic varieties of mangoes, including the large-sized Javaanpasand, to the small-sized Chakkarakutty. Inaugurating the mango festival, agriculture minister K P Mohanan said a hi-tech mango farm will be set up at Attapadi.He added that the Centre has assured to give Rs 183 crore as support for this farm. The state would be given Rs 10 crore to initiate the project. Mango farmers above 60 years of age will be provided with a monthly pension grant by the state government. The youth will be trained in hi-tech farming practices which would be farmer-friendly, agriculture and consumer-friendly.

Organized by the State Horticulture Mission with the support of Mango Growers Association, the mango festival will conclude on May 27. Farmers from the mango city, Muthalamada in Palakkad and from cities across the state will be there at the venue to showcase the best varieties of the fruit.Native mango varieties showcased at the festival include Neelam, Varikka, Kilichundan, Kottukonam, Vellari, Kalappadi, Sindooram and Chandrakkaran. Exotic mango varieties such as Banglora, Alphonsa, Banganapalli, Malgova, Malliga, Jahangir, Daseri and Selam are also on display at the festival."The aim of organizing such a festival is to protect the native varieties and to provide more marketing and sales support to mango farmers," said Dr K Prathapan, director of the State Horticulture Mission.

The farmers involved in the cultivation of hybrid varieties of mangoes in the 400 hectares of land at Muthalamada in Palakkad are glad to have obtained the recognition of Mango City, said V Mohan Kumar, Mango Growers Association secretary and a farmer from Muthalamada in Palakkad. However, it would be a relief if the government provides more marketing and sales support across the state, at least with one outlet in each district, he said. Prof. Molly Kurakar visited Mango Festival exhibition on 22^nd May, 2012.

Prof. John Kurakar