The fair, which saw growers from Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Ramanagara districts manning more than 100 stalls, will be on till June 26.

From Badami to the popular alphonso, numerous varieties of mangoes were on display and sale at the annual Mango and Jackfruit Mela, organised by the Department of Horticulture, that started at Lalbagh on Friday.

The fair, which saw growers from Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Ramanagara districts manning more than 100 stalls, will be on till June 26.

Inaugurating the mela, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said mango cultivation in the state had been hit by drought late last year. “The state government is conducting a survey on the loss accrued in Mango cultivation,” he said. However, he did not divulge details of compensation to be awarded.

Having bought Rs. 800 worth of mangoes, the mela took the Chief Minister down memory lane. “As a child, I used to eat three mangoes at a time…even though I am diabetic now, I look forward to these seasonal fruits,” he said.

Video: Preparation of Jackfruit and Coconut Salad at the Mango and Jackfruit Mela

According to Karnataka Mango Development Board director Kamalakshi Rajanna, the yield has come down from Rs. 8 lakh tones to just 3.5 lakh tonnes this year. However, she hoped that the mango mela will end up selling 1,500 tonnes of mango, nearly double from the 800 tonnes sold last year.

While Badami comes at Rs. 80 per kg, Alphonso – the king of Mangoes – was being sold for Rs. 90 per kg.

Mango and Jackfruit Mela

When: From May 29 to June 26

Between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Where: Lalbagh

Varieties of mangoes: Alphonso, Badami, Baganapalli, Raspuri, Mallika, Sindhura, Malagoa, Thothapuri, Neelam, Amrapali, Kesar