Odisha Mango Festival Highlights Branding, Biodiversity, and Farmer Empowerment
Bhubaneswar, June 5: The Odisha Mango Festival, jointly organised by ICAR‑IIHR Bengaluru and the Directorate of Horticulture at CHES Bhubaneswar, spotlighted the state’s rich mango diversity and future branding potential.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo urged the creation of a unique Odisha mango brand to boost exports and farmer income.
He also encouraged crop diversification into pulses, oilseeds, and fruits like dragon fruit to strengthen climate‑resilient agriculture.
MLA Sidhant Mohapatra emphasised balancing agriculture with environmental care, while Commissioner‑cum‑Secretary Sachin Jadhav highlighted Odisha’s 2.5 lakh hectares under mango cultivation.
ICAR‑IIHR Director Prof. Tushar Kanti Behera introduced high‑yielding fruit varieties to support farmers.
The festival featured an exhibition of over 60 mango varieties, including local landraces, exotic Miyazaki mangoes, and Arka hybrids.
Scientists guided farmers on orchard management and pest control, while Farmer‑Producer Organisations (FPOs) sold mangoes directly to consumers, strengthening market linkages.
Senior officials from agriculture, soil conservation, and horticulture departments attended the event.
The programme concluded with moderation by Dr. Gobinda Chandra Acharya and a vote of thanks by ADH Geetashree Padhee.
