The State-Level Mango Festival held on June 5, 2026, at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) in Bhubaneswar showcased Odisha’s rich mango heritage and highlighted the need for unique branding to boost farmers’ income.
Jointly organised by ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru, and the Directorate of Horticulture, the festival brought together hundreds of growers, experts, and enthusiasts. The event promoted biodiversity conservation, climate-resilient horticulture, and awareness under the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan.”
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, the Chief Guest, emphasised that Odisha must create distinctive branding for its mangoes to enhance exports and farmer earnings. He urged crop diversification into pulses, oilseeds, and fruit crops like dragon fruit, citing their medicinal value. He praised the government’s initiatives to expose farmers to successful practices across India.
MLA Sidhant Mohapatra stressed balancing agricultural output with environmental care. Commissioner-cum-Secretary of DA&FE, Sachin Jadhav, noted that Odisha has over 2.5 lakh hectares under mango cultivation. ICAR-IIHR Director Prof. Tushar Kanti Behera introduced high-yielding fruit varieties to support farmers.
The festival featured an exhibition of over 60 mango varieties, including local landraces, exotic types like Miyazaki, and Arka hybrids. Scientists interacted with farmers on orchard management and pest control. Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) sold quality mangoes directly to consumers, strengthening market linkages.
Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, Director of Soil Conservation Subrat Panda, and Director of Horticulture Kalunge Gorakh Waman attended. Principal Scientist Dr Gobinda Chandra Acharya moderated the event, which concluded with a vote of thanks by ADH Geetashree Padhee.
