3 July : The 18th Mango Mela is being organised by Haryana Tourism, jointly with the Horticulture Department Haryana, on 4th and 5th July,2009 at Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore. Addressing to the press at Haryana Niwas, Chandigarh, Smt. Kiran Choudhry, Minister of State for Tourism, Forests, Sports & Youth Affairs and Environment Haryana stated that the Mela this time is 18th mela in the series and is organized every year at Pinjore Gardens.
The main objective of the two days Mango Mela is to encourage farmers to adopt the latest technology in order to increase their production, productivity and quality of product, so that, they may get maximum return of their produce from their limited holdings by tapping the domestic as well as international market. The Mango Mela also provides a forum to the mango growers for marketing their produce. It also provides a common platform to the artisans and Self Help Groups to display and sell their handlooms and handicrafts products. The Mela is an annual event which celebrates the arrival of Mango- The King of Fruits. The Mela provides an excellent opportunity to the public to see and taste good quality of mangoes, besides fun and frolic.
The Mela will be inaugurated at 5.00 p.m. on 4th July,09 by Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Hon’ble Chief Minister Haryana and Sh. Harmohinder Singh Chatha, Agriculture Minister Haryana would grace the occasion. Similarly, HE Dr. A.R.Kidwai, Governor Haryana would be the Chief Guest at the Prize Distribution cum Closing Ceremony on 5th July,09 at 5.30 p.m. Sh. Harmohinder Singh Chatha, Agriculture Minister Haryana would also grace the occasion.
The Schedule of various activities for 1st day of the Mango Mela i,e for 4th July, 09 is that at 7.00 a.m- there will be registration of entries of Mangoes & Mango products, 12.00 Noon – Rangoli competition , 2.00 p.m. –Face Painting Competition, 4.00 p.m- Tambola, 5.00 p.m- Inauguration of Mela, 6.30 p.m “Cultural program- Sufi Kalam by Barkat Sidhu. The Schedule for the IInd day, i,e, for 5th July is that at 10.00 a.m- there will be Painting Competition, 10.30 a.m.-Fancy Dress Competition, 11.00 am- Mango Cutout Competition, 12.00 Noon – Demo for preparation of Mango Products for ladies, 12.30 p.m.- Mango Quiz, 1.00 p.m.-Mango Eating Competition, 4.00 p.m. -Tambola, 6.00 p.m-. Prize Distribution and Cultural Programme- Qawwali by Haji Aslam Sabri.
The teams for the cultural programmes have been organized in association with the Information and Public Relations Deptt, Haryana. The Cultural Programme for 4th evening is Sufi Kalam by Barkat Sidhu & Party.. Similarly, the Cultural Programme for 5th evening is Quawalli by Haji Aslam Sabri & Party. In addition, the Day Performers which have been engaged are Haryanvi Dance & Orchestra- Haryana, Kalbelia Sapera Dance-Jodhpur(Rajasthan), Bagpiper-Karnal, Jhangam-Kaithal, Beensapera-Panipat, Kacchi Ghori-Jaipur, Puppet Show-Jaipur, Dhol Nagara-Hodel Banchari, Long Man Bamboo Walker-Delhi, Kaala Udan Zadoo-Delhi and Bioscope-Delhi.
A Food Court has also been set up which will offer variety of F&B items for the visitors. In order to ensure good quality of snacks, stalls have been put up by the Food Crafts Institute (FCI)- Faridabad, IHM-Kurukshetra, Hotel & Catering Management Institute- Chandigarh, Allied Institute of Hotel Management–Panchkula, Sri Sukhmani Institute-Dera Bassi, Sarva Institute-Panchula, Chitkara Institute-Chandigarh and Rayat & Bahara Institute –Kharar. Further, Taj Group of Hotels, Chandigarh has also agreed to put up a stall with special emphasis on mango-based recipes.
The Department of Horticulture Haryana right from its establishment during the year 1991 has laid special emphasis on Mango cultivation in Haryana. The area and production during 1990-91 was 3,553 hectare and 19,900 tones respectively, which has increased remarkably during 2008-09 to 9009 and 69,670 million tones respectively. This has been possible due to the adoption of package and practices demonstrated by the Horticulture Department. Apart from this, during the year 2008-09 an additional area of 320 ha. will be brought under mango plantation and to achieve this goal, an assistance of Rs. 22,500/- per ha. will be given to the farmers in three years with a maximum limit of 4 ha. per beneficiary.
Regarding the mango cultivation in India, it was stated that Mango is grown in an area of 1.96 million hectares and the production is 11.61 million tones. Andhra is leading State of India where total production is estimated to be 3.41 million tones, Uttar Pradesh 2.59 million tones followed by Karnataka 1.11 million tones, Bihar 0.87 million tones, Tamil Nadu 0.73 million tones and Maharashtra 0.63 million tones. In Haryana, Mango occupy a prominent position & it is grown in 25% of total area under fruit cultivation. The estimated area under mango cultivation is 9009 hectares and production is 69,670 million tones. The maximum area under Mango is in Yamunanagar district 5274 ha., Ambala 1282 ha., Panchkula 921 ha, Karnal 633 ha., and Kurukshetra 425 ha.