Indigenous mango gardens to be built across Kerala

In a bid to preserve hundreds of varieties of indigenous mangoes, as many as hundred mango gardens with each having over hundred mango trees of different indigenous varieties are being set up across Kerala.

An initiative by a group of people at a village in Kannur district to protect an over 200 years old mango trees has led to the novel venture being supported by Kerala Agriculture Department.

The mango gardens are being named after noted poet and environmentalist Sugathakumari. The first indigenous mango garden will be inaugurated at C Achutha Menon Government College at Kuttanellor in Thrissur district by Kerala agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar on Saturday.

As many as 13,000 saplings were already prepared at a farm at Karimbam in Kannur district. Most of the saplings were collected from various premises in the Kannapuram and nearby panchayats in Kannur district. The gardens would be set up mainly on the premises of government institutions.

Last year Kannapuram, which is around 15 kilometres from Kannur city, was declared as ‘Indigenous Mango Heritage area’ as over 200 varieties of indigenous mango trees were spotted in the area. Kerala State Biodiversity Board identified the area as heritage zone in coordination with the Kannapuram grama panchayat.

Shyju Machathi, a local farmer who has been coordinating these initiatives, said that at least 100 varieties of indigenous varieties of mango trees were protected in every 300-metre radius of the locality. The proposal to set up indigenous mango gardens across Kerala got triggered by these initiatives. A heritage walk for mango lovers, researchers and students was also being planned as part of the project, said Shyju who is also a city police officer.

The agriculture department is also planning to set up a gene bank of the indigenous varieties of mango trees.