The recent Mango Mela exhibition aimed at promoting direct sale of mangoes by farmers to consumers in Belagavi, was a significant success.

Officials said that around 70 tonnes of fruits were sold, leading to a transaction of around ₹2.25 crore in just three days.

The zilla panchayat and the Department of Horticulture had put up the fair in the Hume Park on Club Road from May 8 to 10.

There were 25 stalls in the mela. Around 50 varieties of mangoes were sold. They included Kesar, Alphonso, Berishan, Raspuri, Swarnarekha, Goa Mankoora, Mallika, Totapuri, Shakkar Gutti, Khadar, Punas, Bitki and Appe Midi.

“The fair is an annual event. It is organised with the aim of selling quality mango fruits directly from farmers to consumers at reasonable prices. It helps both, the producing farmers and the buyers, by eliminating the middlemen. It also introduces several exotic and non-popular varieties to the market,” said Joint Director of Horticulture Mahantesh Murugod.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde said that farmers from across the district and some taluks of Dharwad district put up their mangoes for sale.

The fair also attracted farmers from Devgad and Pandharpur districts of Maharashtra.

Special stalls were set up to showcase and sell fully organic mangoes. The orchard were specially identified by the Horticulture Department officers. The Horticulture Department put up hoardings about improved farming practices. Some saplings and farm inputs were also sold.

Inspector-General of Police (Northern Range) Chetan Singh Rathod inaugurated the fair.

District president of Guarantee Schemes committee Vinay Navalagatti, Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabrao, officials, farmers and the public were present.