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Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sindoor to Yogi-Raaj: Blend of creativity, innovation showcased at mango festival in Lucknow
Uniquely named and distinctively grown varieties, ranging from Sindoor to Yogi-Raaj, stole the show at the annual Mango Festival in Lucknow, showcasing creativity, nationalism and horticultural innovation. Mangoes displayed at the fesitval in Lucknow. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo) Inaugurated by chief minister Yogi Adityanath at Awadh Shilpgram on Friday, the three-day festival displayed hundreds of mango varieties, but it was the unusually named ones among them that drew the attention of one and all. Among them was the red 'Sindoor' mango, named after 'Operation Sindoor', India's military response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Operation Sindoor targeted terror-related sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in May. 'Its vermilion hue symbolises the valour of the Indian Army,' said SC Shukla, a noted mango grower from Lucknow. 'It has excellent shelf life, aroma, and taste making it a tribute to the country's pride.' 'Yogi-Raaj' and 'Modi' mangoes added more flavour to the festival. The Yogi-named variety, weighing around 1.5 kg, was developed by veteran horticulturist and Padma Shri Haji Kalimullah Khan, who said, 'Its weight reflects the impactful personality of Yogi Adityanath.' The 'Modi Mango', weighing around 400 grams, was developed in 2023 by Upendra Kr Singh, a Malihabad-based grower and general secretary of the Awadh Mango Producer Horticulture Committee. 'This variety was inspired by Modi's 56-inch chest metaphor and has been patented through ICAR-CISH (Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture),' he told HT. ICAR-CISH's Vineet Singh, a senior research fellow, added: 'It was developed from a seedling and showed superior quality, hence the patent was secured.' Apple-like mango? The 'Aam-Apple', a mango which was so apple-like in appearance that it confused many at first glance, turned heads at the festival. 'This variety was sourced from Goa and is now being grown in Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar,' said Sanjay Singh, who showcased the fruit. 'It thrives in most climates and tastes incredibly sweet.'
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Maha' utsav of mangoes: Over 800 varieties spread aroma, cheers among connoisseurs
Lucknow: The three-day Uttar Pradesh Mango Mahotsav 2025 showcased an impressive collection of 800 mango varieties, celebrating India's beloved fruit in grand style. The exhibition featured 600 varieties native to UP, with orchardists from various districts displaying their unique regional offerings. The showcase included GI-tagged Dussehri from Malihabad, Banarasi Langda, Retaul from Baghpat, Bihar's Gulab Khas and international varieties like Tommy Atkins from US and India-developed Arunika. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the event, stating: "This Mango Mahotsav, with over 801 varieties on display, is a testament to Uttar Pradesh's rich agricultural tradition and the innovation driving our farmers forward. The govt is committed to promoting GI-tagged produce on global platforms and strengthening farmer livelihoods." Notable exhibits included the 'Yogi Mango' and 'Modi Mango'. Padma Bhushan recipient Haji Kaleemullah, known as the 'Mango Man', presented the one-kilogram Yogi Mango, distinguished by its soft pulp and minimal seed. "This mango is dedicated to CM Yogi Adityanath for his inspiring work in reclaiming govt lands from mafias," Kaleemullah said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Bom Jesus Do Itabapoana (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo His previous creations include mangoes named after various politicians, and his distinctive 'Anarkali' mango featuring dual peels and flavours. His achievement of grafting over 300 varieties on one tree has earned national acclaim. "Mango is not just about taste, it's medicine. Some varieties help control diabetes," he noted. Farmer Upendra Kumar from Kaushambi presented the indigenous 'Modi Mango', a 500-gram aromatic variety. "Foreign mangoes lack the depth of taste found in Indian varieties," he said, advocating for preservation of rare varieties like 'Haathi Jhoom' and 'Dukhman Mango'. The festival offered diverse mango delicacies including aam panna, aam ras, fresh slices, squashes and ice creams. Pickle stalls featured regional varieties from Kerala, Rajasthan, and Bengal's aamsotto. Visitors benefited from practical demonstrations of grafting techniques, sapling sales and orchard management education. ICAR-CISH, Rehmankhera, Kakori, displayed 152 Indian varieties, 18 exotic imports and 50 experimental hybrids. Principal scientist Ashish Yadav highlighted their Metwash technology and climate-resilient hybrids. The festivities concluded with an evening cultural programme featuring Bhojpuri performer Pawan Kumar, who entertained the audience with popular songs.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Mango wine can now be produced year-round
Lucknow: In a breakthrough, ICAR-CISH scientists have innovated a method to craft mango wine from pulp, extending the fruit's flavour beyond its seasonal availability. Mango wine may now be available throughout the year, even when the mango season is over. The technology developed by ICAR-CISH (Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture) involves preparing mango wine using the pulp of mangoes when fresh fruits are not available. Previously, mango wines were prepared using only the fresh juice from the fruits, making them expensive. However, CISH's technology may be revolutionary in the sense that mango pulp extracted from the fruits during their season can be stored using food-grade preservatives and used to make wines even when fresh fruits are not available in the market. "The best part is that the aroma, flavour and taste of the fruit will not be lost while preparing the wine under standardised conditions," said a Senior Scientist at the institute. CISH has experimented with varieties of mangoes grown in Malihabad such as Dussehri, Amrapali, Mallika, Chausa and Langda in making the wine. The mango pulp is fermented using sugar and yeast, which in the process releases alcohol. Mango pulp has 10% to 12% alcohol content. Because it is not distilled, it does not lose nutritional properties. It also contains Lupeol, highly potent anti-cancerous bio-active compound.
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Mango ‘Kavach': Butter paper brings better harvest, but leaves pockets bitter
Standing under the shade of his mango-laden trees in Malihabad here, Upendra Kumar Singh inspects the green-gold fruits wrapped in neat paper covers. The orchard hums with quiet confidence. 'These bags are my 'Kavach' (shield),' he says, gently lifting a mango protected inside a butter paper bag or fruit bag. 'Ever since I started using them, I haven't worried about pests or bad weather.' In a year when infestations have plagued mango orchards across Uttar Pradesh, Singh's harvest looks promising. He is among a small group of farmers, less than 1% across the state, who use butter paper bagging to protect their fruits. The practice, though effective, has not gained traction widely, mainly due to cost. While thousands of farmers across Uttar Pradesh struggle with pest infestations and unpredictable weather, Singh remains calm. His solution? A simple, ₹2 paper bag wrapped around each mango. This method, known as butter paper bagging or 'Kavach', has turned into a lifeline for a handful of farmers, but its cost is proving to be a bitter barrier for many. According to the Uttar Pradesh horticulture department, while the state has nearly 3 lakh mango growers, just over 2,000 have adopted the butter paper bags. Singh, also the general secretary of the Awadh Mango Producer Horticulture Committee, began using makeshift brown paper bags before the proper ones were available. Today, he uses the specially designed Kavach bags, being promoted by ICAR-Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH) in Lucknow. Mango growers across UP are battling two destructive pests this season, the fruit borer and the semi-looper, that have severely affected varieties like Dussehri and Chausa. 'My orchard saw severe losses this year,' said Md Qamar, another farmer from Malihabad. 'It's impossible for small farmers to cover every mango when each bag costs ₹2.' Apart from the cost of the bag, an additional 50 to 75 paise goes into manually tying each one. For large orchards, the expenses multiply quickly. 'I have spoken to mandi officials and the Commissioner, urging for subsidies,' said Insram Ali, president of the All India Mango Growers' Association. 'The results of bagging are excellent. But without financial support, it's out of reach for most.' Ali is hopeful that a decision on subsidy support will come soon. Doubling income, but few takers According to ICAR-CISH director T Damodaran, the returns from bagged mangoes far outweigh the input costs. 'Bagged mangoes can fetch twice the profit. For every tonne of bagged mangoes, farmers can earn an additional ₹15,000 to ₹20,000. For premium quality, this goes up to ₹30,000.' Yet adoption remains low. The challenge lies not just in awareness but also in affordability. To address this, a Kavach manufacturing unit has been set up on Kursi Road in Lucknow under ICAR-CISH incubation, he informed. The factory is operated by Meta Agri Tech Pvt Ltd, led by Sujit Singh, and Mayank Singh. 'Our machine can make 2.5 to 4.5 bags per minute. We have already supplied over 50 lakh bags to farmers in Lucknow, Unnao, Sitapur, Hardoi, and more,' said Sujit. 'We aim to reach farmers in the Chausa belt of West UP and the Langda region of Varanasi.' However, the cost remains high due to the raw material, a special Kaolin-coated paper, being imported from Taiwan and Japan. 'If it were available in India, the price would come down,' said Singh. According to Damodaran, 'These bags act as a shield against pests, sunburn, dust, and sudden storms. This year's pest outbreak could have been avoided if more farmers had used Kavach.' Despite clear benefits, the high upfront cost keeps most farmers away. 'The quality difference is visible,' said Singh. 'But unless the cost drops or subsidy comes in, it will remain a choice for a few.' In the orchards of Malihabad, Singh looks at his ripening fruits. They glisten inside their protective covers, safe, healthy, and ready for the market. For now, the Kavach remains both a shield and a challenge.
