Residents of the city have to satisfy their mango taste buds with the varieties from the southern and western parts of the country, as the local range will not hit the market for another month.

The fruit market in the capital is flooded with mangoes from other states — namely Tottapuri (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu) and Baiganphula (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka).

These varieties are in great demand and are available at the stalls at income tax roundabout, Boring Road, Bailey Road and Jagdeo Path.

A resident of Kidwaipuri, Gayatri Singh, said: “Mango is my favourite fruit and I can’t let go of the chance to taste the first mangoes of the season.”

The residents are also worried about the high price of the mangoes and they are waiting for the local variety, Dudhiya Malda, Langara, Bombaiya, Jardalu and Jarda.

Mohamad Mukhtar, a wholesaler at Rajendra Nagar, said: “As soon as the local mangoes enter the market, the sale of the exported mangoes drops. We are expecting the local varieties in one month.”

The state is expecting a 60 per cent rise in the mango production in compare to the last year. According to the National Horticulture Mission sources, Bihar ranks third in the mango cultivation and covers about 50 per cent of the total fruit cultivable area in the state.

Deputy director of horticulture (planning) Pawan Kumar said: “In order to fulfil our targets for Bagicha Bachao Andolan, we have cultivated mangoes on 3,08,015 acres in May last year. This year, the cultivation is likely to increase by 60 per cent.”

Some residents complain about the price variation of mangoes. A resident of Boring Road Narayan Shankar said the vendors demanded Rs 120 per kg for the mangoes at the Income tax roundabout and he got the same at Rs 80 per kg at Bailey Road.

Mukhtar said: “The price depends on the production and supply of mangoes. We have a fixed price for all the exported varieties ranging between Rs 35 and Rs 45, but the retailers sell them at quite a high price.”

The retailers, however, put the blame of the high price on the production of the mangoes. “The mango production is likely to be low this year. We fix our rate according to the demand of the mangoes. The profit margin is quite low,” said Jitendar, a fruit vendor.