Rejuvenate old mango orchards, says minister

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 16

Laying stress on rejuvenation of old mango orchards, Uttarakhand Minister for Horticulture Subodh Uniyal on Monday said  the state had the potential of becoming a major mango fruit-producing state if old trees were replaced with new hybrid  varieties.

 “We need to expand our production. As of now in Uttarakhand, around 36, 422 hectare of land is under mango production, which is less than the national average,” said Uniyal while speaking at the national mango festival.

He said officials and farmers needed to sit together and work out a plan for growing newer hybrid varieties of mangoes.

On the other hand, Director Horticulture RC Srivastav said the weather in the state was conducive for growing mangoes. “We need to increase the production and cultivation of mangoes in the state. In the last couple of years, efforts have been made in this direction and more needs to be done,” he said.

A mango exhibition was also held in which 1,017 participants participated in various categories. 

A total of 300 new and old mango varieties were on display.