In news: Shrikishan Suman, a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed an innovative mango variety which is a regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called Sadabahar, which is resistant to most major diseases and common mango disorders.
About Sadabahar mango
- Sadabahar mango variety as the name suggests a regular and continuous fruit bearing variety, means it blooms throughout the year
- The fruits are sweeter in taste and it is developed as a dwarf variety which is suitable for kitchen gardening and can be grown in pots for some years
- Besides, the flesh of the fruits, which is bourn round the year, is deep orange with sweet taste, and the pulp has very less fiber content which differentiates it from other varieties.
- The bountiful of nutrients packed in mango are immensely good for health..
- Other Salient features of the variety
- Higher Yield (5-6 t/ha)
- Fruiting throughout the year
- Mango peel is deep orange with sweeter taste
- Pulp has very less fibre.
- High-density plantation
Verification & recognition of the Sadabahar mango
- The innovative attributes of the variety have been verified by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF), India, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science & Technology
- NIF also facilitated an on-site evaluation of the variety through ICAR – Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, and a field testing at SKN Agriculture University, Jobner (Jaipur), Rajasthan.
- It is in the process of being registered under the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Act and ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi.
- NIF has also facilitated the plantation of Sadabahar mango variety in the Mughal Garden at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
- For this evergreen variety developed, Shrikishan Suman was conferred the NIF’s 9th National Grassroots Innovation and Traditional Knowledge Award and subsequently recognised at various other fora.
Types/varieties of Mangoes in India
In India there are over 100 varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours. Following are some of the varieties of Mango that can be found in India:Alphonso(Hapus) – Ratnagiri, Badami – Karnataka(Known as Alphonso of Karnataka), Chaunsa – Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Langra – Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Dasheri – Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh, Kesar – Saurashtra, Gujarat, Mulgoba – Tamil Nadu, Himsagar – West Bengal, Benishan Mango – Banganapalli, Andhra Pradesh, Imam Pasand – South India
Mango & its significance
- Mangifera indica is the National Fruit of India
- Its juicy fruit is a rich source of Vitamins A, C and D.
- The poet Kalidasa sang its praises.
- Alexander savoured its taste, as did the Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang.
- Mughal emperor Akbar planted 100,000 mango trees in Darbhanga, Bihar at a place now known as Lakhi Bagh
