Karwar: Call it the end of a delightful hegemony or new challengers emerging, but a revolution of sorts has happened in the Konkan region- the rich grounds of cultivation of the King of Mangoes -Alphonso(Hapus). The original growing areas of Indian Alphonso -Devgadh, Rathnagiri, Sindhudurg and Thane in Maharashtra have severe competition from the Alphonso grown in Northern Karnataka areas including Mundgod, Haliyal and Dandeli.
Alphonso mangoes are traditionally cultivated in Maharashtra and growers from Konkan coast have acquired Geographical Indication Tag in 2018 and Devgadh Hapus got its own GI tag in 2020.“
This recognition has made them even more special and more pricy. But now with the Karnataka growers also turning in crops grown in North Karnataka orchards in the Alphonso market, every year the prices are coming down during the peak Alphonso period. Though it did not have any effect on the trade both domestic and export, it did make a dent in quality assessment by the consumer. The exporters and domestic market functionaries have begun repacking the Maharashtrian Alphonso consignments with few pieces of Alphonso grown in Karnataka to balance the cost, demand and supply factors” says Madhav Lele of Lele Alphonso Mango orchards in Devgadh.
However, Karnataka’s Alphonso farming has brought down the prices from Rs. 1600-1800 for a box of 12 Alphonso Mangoes to Rs. 1200 in the beginning of the season to Rs. 300 – 350 in the peak season. Not only the price factor, but Alphonso Mangoes distribution has spread to all parts of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Those hardcore Mango aficionados who thought that the Alphonso is much beyond their reach are now reaching out at the stack at supermarkets and local fruit vendors freely.
The orchards began taking shape in Mundgod, Haliyal, Dandeli and also Kolar about six years back and now they are in full bloom and the output has surprised the market functionaries. Over 22000 hectares has been brought under the Alphonso cultivation in North Karnataka and in Kolar Districts and according to Horticulture department statistics the farmlands being brought under Alphonso cultivation was unprecedented and in the next five years or so, Karnataka might have a lakh of hectares under Alphonso cultivation.
“To our surprise, the Alphonso plantation is growing size and expanse in Karnataka and in the next five years with good care of the trees perhaps Karnataka can become the largest producer of the fruit,” says Dharmendra Chaudhury, a new generation grower.
The horticulture activists from the Uttara Kannada District are also engaged in another fight over the expansion of the Alphonso variety. “As a result of this directionless growth farmers are replacing other traditional varieties of mangoes such as Kalishad, Pairi, Dilshad and wild mangoes of Uttara Kannada District are losing grounds. This is not a healthy development when it comes to conservation of fruit diversity,” felt B. V. Patil, an advocate for local varieties of Mango.
Alphonso is exclusively Maharashtrian?
A legal battle between the two Alphonso growers, Karnataka and Maharashtra is in the offing. “Alphonsos grown in Devgadh and Rathnagiri have GI tags, any other areas in the country growing Alphonso variety cannot be Devgadh and Rathnagiri Alphonsos while the debate is on if Alphonso is a generic name or a brand name. It is not just Karnataka even in areas bordering Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is switched to grow Alphonsos in addition Benisha and Neelam. But in Andhra Pradesh and Eastern Karnataka the growers of Alphonso form Madanpalli sell Alphonsos. Agents from Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mangaluru they pick up stock from Mandis in Madanpalli. We cannot stop the Alphonso growing as a brand, but the traders must not infiltrate Alphonso mangoes grown in different areas into the basket of brands that have GI tags,” feel the counsels of Konkan Hapus Amba Utpadak Ani Vikrate Sangh.
However the Karnataka growers have a stronger point, “none of our growers have claimed that they are selling either Devgadh or Rathnigiri Hapus (Alphonso). After we deliver our produce to the APMC or the private mandis we do not track the movement of our mangoes. Growers and vendors of Maharashtra cannot hold us responsible,” is the version of the growers of North Karnataka.
The All India Mango Growers Association (AIMGA) in Uttar Pradesh had also similar piqant situation in the case of its famous Langra mangoes cultivated in Bhagalpur in Bihar, and in Banganpally of Andhra Pradesh being cultivated in Kerala.