Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru ( NJC)
Mangaluru, May 26: A four-day Mango Mela will be held at Kadri Park, from May 28 to 31, jointly organised by the Ramanagara District Mango Growers Marketing Association with the support of the Horticulture Department.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Club in Mangaluru on Tuesday, Association president Ramesh said that visitors will have an opportunity to buy a wide variety of premium-quality, naturally ripened mangoes at competitive prices. Popular varieties such as Alphonso, Badami, Mallika, Rasapuri, Malgova, Sindhura, Kalapadi, Totapuri, Benishan (Banganapalli), Sugar Baby, and several others will be available for sale during the mela.
Farmer Vasu said that around 25 mango growers from Ramanagara district are expected to participate in the event. The mela will remain open for sales from 8 am to 8:30 pm every day. Organisers are expecting to sell nearly 25 tonnes of mangoes during the four-day festival.
The mela will be inaugurated on May 28 at 11 am by U T Khader, speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The inaugural function will be presided over by D Vedavyas Kamath.
Among the dignitaries expected to attend are MP Brijesh Chowta, police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, deputy commissioner Darshan H V, horticulture director Ibrahim Maigur, zilla panchayat CEO Narvade Vinayak Karbari, Mangaluru City Corporation commissioner Ravichandra Nayak, deputy director of Horticulture Dr S Nanda, and Dakshina Kannada District Krishik Samaja president Vijay Kumar Rai.
Association director Siddaraju and progressive farmer Vasu were also present at the press conference.
Speaking on the occasion, senior assistant director of the horticulture department Praveen said that the department is not organising the Mango Mela this year due to a shortage of funds. Instead, the department is extending its support and encouragement to the event.
He noted that under the District Panchayat Publicity Literature Scheme, a grant of Rs 75,000 had been provided for the Mango Mela last year. However, the scheme has been discontinued across the state this year, resulting in the withdrawal of financial assistance for the event.
The Mango Mela is expected to attract fruit lovers, traders, and families from across the region, providing a direct platform for growers to market their produce while offering consumers access to fresh, naturally ripened mangoes from one of Karnataka's leading mango-growing districts.