Gir Kesar Mangoes suffer the wreck after storm, Kutchi gains attention

  • | Wednesday | 26th May, 2021

Over the past few years, the kesar mangoes grown in arid Kutch have gained a lot of popularity for its sweet taste. Every year, Kutchi kesar floods the markets a month after Gir Kesar production starts waning.

Mango lovers may not have had Gir kesar to their heart’s content this summer as Cyclone Tauktae wrecked the orchards. But Kutchi kesar, an equally luscious variety that arrives a month after kesar season, is also set to get dearer.

Wholesalers and big traders are offering extra price to Kutch farmers this year to procure their produce in bulk. According to farmers, traders are offering 30% more price compared to last year as they have not been able to sell enough Gir Kesar this time.

Over the past few years, the kesar mangoes grown in arid Kutch have gained a lot of popularity for its sweet taste. Every year, Kutchi kesar floods the markets a month after Gir Kesar production starts waning. Mehul Premjiyani, who has 11,000 mango trees in Desalpar village near Bhuj, said, “Traders are aggressively inquiring about the mango ever since the cyclone in Saurashtra. The demand has increased 25% compared to the same period last year.”

Daya Devipujak, a trader in Kutch who supplies mangoes to most big cities in Gujarat, said, “This year, demand for Kutch kesar is huge due to damage to Gir mangoes. We are offering better prices to farmers to procure in bulk.”

Dhiru Gandhi, an orchard owner near Nakhatrana, added, “Traders are offering 30% price. They are offering Rs 60 per kg currently which was around Rs 45 before two weeks ago.”

Kutch’s kesar’s harvesting starts a month after Gir’s and it will be plucked between June 1 and June10. The taste is slightly different but mango lovers appreciate its sweetness.

Kutch also felt the effect of the cyclone and nearly 10% of the crop was damaged. K P Sojitra, deputy director of horticulture in Kutch said, “Kesar mango is being cultivated in 10,000 hectares in Kutch and average production is around 70,000 tonnes but this year it’s pegged to be between 55,000 to 60,000 tonnes due to a disease called mango malformation and some cyclone effect.”

Besides the main mango growing pockets in Mandvi, Nakhatrana and Anjar talukas, it is also cultivated in villages of Bhachau, Rapar, Mundra and Bhuj taluka in a scattered way.

Dinesh Vora, a farmer in Madhapar village near Bhuj said “The season of Kutchi kesar is about to begin in a few days and we are expecting good demand this year because of the huge damage in Saurashtra.”

The mango production in four districts of Saurashtra-Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar has been decreasing over the last few years because of climate change and excessive rains. This year too, farmers feared the loss of 40% because of unseasonal rain and hail, but the cyclone wiped out over 50% of crop. Large number of orchards was uprooted and the mango trees will take another 5-10 years to bear fruits.


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