The Mango Federation of Bhagalpur has decided to market the local Jardalu variety across the country this season with the hope of a good production.
The federation - the first of its kind for mango farmers in the state - has also proposed a new catch-line on the despatch packets, "Gift from Bhagalpur", to send the seasonal fruit to states.
For years, Jardalu, known for its sweetness and flavour, is sent to the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries by the Bhagalpur district administration.
However, after the formation of the federation last year with active guidance of Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour, vice-chancellor M.L. Choudhary, the farmers now have the opportunity to supply their products to different parts of the country, said Ashok Kumar Choudhary, federation president.
Ashok, a recipient of Krishan Sree award and popularly known as "Mango Man", said: "On April 20, the university organised a training programme for mango farmers on its campus. The federation gained many ideas and is ready now for sending mangoes to big markets in Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, New Delhi among others."
Ashok said the federation members have been divided into three groups - the first would learn the technique of plucking mangoes along with packing of the product for transport. The second would manage the market networking with markets out of Bihar while the third group would coordinate with the state government for helping the farmers.
He said the BAU would assist the federation for dispatching varieties like Jardalu and Malda inside attractive cartons. "For maintaining the post-harvest qualities, the university would provide special machines - indigenously developed - to the farmers for plucking the product from the trees safely. After the harvest, the products would be collected and after grading, it will be despatched to its various destinations. "Gift from Bhagalpur" would be printed on the cartons along with the name of the farmer, weight and how to use the fruit in better ways," Ashok added.
"The Grape Growers' Association in India have their monopoly in the world grape market. Then why the potential mango growers in Bihar cannot have their monopoly in the Indian market?" said vice-chancellor Choudhary. He added that with the active patronage from the university, mango farmers would give a new identity to Bihar.
