Bhubaneswar, June 5: The State-Level Mango Festival was held on Friday at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) in Bhubaneswar. Jointly organised by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, and Odisha's Directorate of Horticulture, the event celebrated the State's rich mango heritage, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable farming.
The festival brought together hundreds of growers, experts, and enthusiasts to promote climate-resilient horticulture and raise awareness for agricultural land protection under the "Khet Bachao Abhiyan."
The festival featured a massive exhibition displaying over 60 mango varieties, ranging from popular local landraces to exotic types like Miyazaki and high-yielding Arka hybrids. This platform allowed scientists to interact directly with farmers regarding orchard management and pest control. To round out the event, several Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) set up stalls to sell quality mangoes directly to consumers, strengthening market linkages.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo graced the event and emphasised that Odisha needs to create unique branding for its mangoes to significantly enhance farmers' income and propel agricultural exports.
He suggested the critical need for crop diversification to boost agricultural productivity. He urged farmers to move away from traditional methods by diversifying into pulses, oilseeds, and fruit crops like dragon fruit, which offer great medicinal value.
Singh Deo also highlighted the State Government’s initiatives to expose local farmers to successful agricultural practices across India and praised the organizers for such an informative event.
Other prominent dignitaries addressed key challenges and opportunities in the sector. Digapahandi MLA Sidhant Mohapatra emphasised balancing high agricultural output with environmental care.
Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Secretary Sachin Jadhav pointed out that while Odisha has over 2.5 lakh hectares dedicated to mango cultivation. Additionally, while ICAR-IIHR Director Prof. Tushar Kanti Behera introduced high-yielding fruit varieties developed to support local farmers.
