Kolar, 14 May

Srinivaspur in Kolar district is preparing for the annual mango trading season beginning on 15 May, bringing renewed activity to one of the country’s most prominent mango-growing belts.

Known as the “Mango Capital,” the town is expected to witness hectic commercial activity over the next three months, with farmers, traders, labourers and transport operators banking heavily on the seasonal economy. The region has earned a reputation for producing premium mango varieties such as Badami, Mallika, Baneesh, Imam Pasand, Pasha Pasand and Kesar.

Mango cultivation, spread across nearly 65,000 acres in and around Srinivaspur, remains the lifeline of the local rural economy.

Economic Boost

Preparations for the three-month trading season are nearing completion at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yard and private marketplaces, where authorities have undertaken improvements in weighing, storage and transport infrastructure to facilitate smooth operations.

The town is likely to host around 130 to 140 mango shops this year, with nearly 90 inside the APMC premises and another 30 to 40 shops outside the yard, said G Srinivas, Secretary of the Srinivaspur APMC.

“Each shop is expected to employ six to eight workers, creating direct seasonal employment for more than 800 people,” he said.

The season also generates large-scale indirect employment.

Nearly a thousand more people are expected to find jobs in mango plucking, grading, sorting, and packing. Women form a significant part of the workforce in sorting and packing units.

Sectors such as transport, retail trade and hospitality are also likely to witness a sharp rise in business activity, further generating employment opportunities for drivers, cleaners and loading workers.

The mango economy has also encouraged several small-scale household industries. In the Indiranagar locality of Srinivasapur, many families prepare pickles and other products using slightly damaged or lower-grade fruits.

Massive Markets

During the peak season, truckloads of mangoes are dispatched daily to major markets across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The region also supplies large quantities of fruit to Chittoor and Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh, where processing units convert mangoes into pulp, juice and other products.

Select varieties, including Badami, Mallika and Baneesh, also see a strong demand in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Although erratic weather conditions and climatic variations are likely to affect the yield of certain varieties this year, growers and traders remain optimistic that Srinivaspur will once again reinforce its standing as one of India’s premier mango trade centres.