Gohar, Rasha, Shola, Sard Gola, Jagir, Arbaaz, Baac, Bumbai Laal, Kamil, Aarm, Botal, Gul Mohar, Turbat, Laal Pota, Aman, Sangam, Hajiwala and Mr 2. These strange names are not characters in a 50s era bollywood pot boiler but varieties of mango grown in Sindh, though most would only know the common Sindhri, Langra, Anwar Ratole, Seroli, Dussehri and Chaunsa varieties.
All of these verities and others were on display at the 49th National Mango and Summer Fruits Festival 2014 held in Mirpukhas.
“For example, there is the Dussehri which is small in size that is known among mango growers as the black variety and then there is the other Dussehri which is bigger and longer that is known as the white variety. The latter is also more nutritious.” Said a mango grower.
The festival, organised each year by the directorate of the Sindh Horticulture Research Institute, Mirpurkhas, was held slightly late this year due to a lack of funds, it was explained. Though most people are enjoying the beginning of the mango season, Mr Hussain said that the mango season in Mirpukhas was more than half over already. “The mangoes you’ll be getting until August or September won’t be from Sindh,” he explained. “They come from Punjab and other areas.”
