'Tango with mango' at Mango Festival

New Delhi, July 7: The 19th annual Mango Festival got off to a start today with a view to providing an opportunity to mango growers to establish a direct contact with buyers and minimise the interference of traders.

Inaugurating the two-day festival, Tourism Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said, the prime focus of the festival was to provide a platform to the cultivators where they can have a one-to-one dealing with the buyers.

''Such measures ensure the growers to fetch a reasonable amount for their produce as the role of traders do not come into play.

The event also aims at providing exposure to the domestic mango industry and exporters,'' the Minister said.

The direct contact of farmer-buyer ensures a healthy and quality product and chances of spurious fruits being supplied in the market is reduced to minimum, Mr Lovely added.

While 500 varieties of mangoes of different sizes and shapes, including the world-famous Alphanso and Kesar, from several states are on display, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, (Pusa) Delhi is showcasing the hybrid breeds of the fruit some of which are in commercial use while others are still in the research process.

The highlight of today's festival was mango culinary competition in which seven renowned Delhi hotels, including Taj, Le Meridian, Oberoi, participated.

''The competition attracts a large number of visitors. Not many people know that apart from deserts, appetizers and main course dishes can also be prepared from mango and so it is a unique experience for them,'' Taj's Executive Chef Ajay Sood said, adding that the festival gave them a chance to come across with their rival groups and witness each others techniques and styles.

Though Alphanso remained cynosure of all the eyes, mango-based products put on sale attracted many in the festival which is being organised by the Delhi Tourism in association with NHB, Agriculture Produce Food Export and Development Authority (APEDA), NDMC and Dabur.

Students from College of Arts and school children also participated in the two-day festival where quiz, slogan writing and mango eating contests will be organised for them.

Besides, various cultural programmes by Sahitya Kala Parishad and Urdu Academy and magic show for children will also be organised.

India grows 1000 variety of mangoes. The year 2006 saw mango export of 70,000 metric tons of value around 128 crores.

''Indian mangoes are exported to 12 countries, especially in the West Asia. The country has now entered the markets of the US also and efforts are on to make a foray in Australian and New Zealand markets as well,'' Programme Executive, National Horticulture Board (NHB), Surinder Singh Nijhar said.

Calling the festival a complete ''holiday package'' for Delhiites, Mr Lovely said the popularity of the Mango Festival was growing every year and hoped that the event this year will register a footfall of 25,000.

UNI