A three-day Mango and Jackfruit Mela got off to a start in Madikeri on Friday, drawing visitors with over 20 mango stalls, exotic fruit varieties and direct sales from growers.

The sixth edition of the mela, organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Department of Horticulture and Kodagu HOPCOMS at the HOPCOMS premises in Madikeri, was inaugurated by Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda, who launched the event by tasting mangoes and interacting with growers.

The mela features around 20 mango stalls, two jackfruit stalls and several outlets displaying fruit saplings, vegetable seeds and flowering plants. Farmers directly marketing produce from their orchards emerged as an attraction.

Mantar Gowda inspected various mango varieties, including Badami, Imam Pasand, Alphonso, Kesar, Dasheri, Mallika, Malgova, Sindhoora, Raspuri, Totapuri, Kalapadi, Sakkaregutti and Rumani. He also visited stalls displaying jackfruit varieties and exotic fruits such as mangosteen and rambutan.

Speaking to reporters, the MLA stressed the need to promote horticulture crops and organise training programmes for farmers in Kodagu.

He said the district, known for crops such as coffee, cardamom and pepper, was also witnessing cultivation of arecanut, butter fruit and wild mango, and suggested that farmers should increasingly focus on alternative crops in view of the region’s high rainfall.

Mr. Gowda also proposed leasing nearly 100 acres of land under the Horticulture Department at Madapura to farmers to improve utilisation and generate higher income.

He also announced plans to hold training programmes for mango growers to encourage mango and jackfruit cultivation in the district.

Several mango varieties are available at the mela, with prices ranging from ₹40 per kg for Totapuri to ₹200 per kg for premium varieties such as Imam Pasand, Kesar, Malgova and Sakkaregutti. Alphonso is priced at ₹150 per kg, while Badami and Raspuri are selling at ₹100 per kg.

Representatives of HOPCOMS, officials from the Horticulture Department, elected representatives and local officials were present at the inaugural event.