Scientists develop special mango for pickling

Here's good news for mango pickle lovers. After extensive research, lasting seven years, a group of…

Here's good news for mango pickle lovers. After extensive research, lasting seven years, a group of six scientists and professors of National Agriculture Research (NAR) and Mahatma Phule Agriculture University, Rahuri, have developed a variety of mango that is to be used only for pickling. The kind of preserve made from these mangos lasts for more than a year.

The scientists have claimed that this mango variety was developed after studying different varieties of the fruit from across the country. They said that its better than the 'Ruchira' variety which was developed by Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, in 1999. This mango variety in the second that the state has developed only for pickling.

Before carrying out its research, the team studied the Ruchira among other varieties to determine characteristics like ingredients, skin colour, size, durability and store capacity.

Speaking to BdnaB, associate professor, Homology, Anil Kamble, who was involved in the research, said, "After studying all the varieties for seven years, we developed the new variety 'Ganeshkhind Pickle mango 5' and will launch it in the market next month. This variety can be stored for more than a year."

Kamble said, "The variety will give fruits in the months of June and July, which is the ripe time to pickle. However, commercial firms that are in the pickle-business are making use of random varieties. In order to keep their pickle durable, they use extra oil and spices."

Kamble is of the opinion that farmers and commercial firms will reap benefits from the new variety. "Our research is complete and the saplings of the variety have been developed at the centre. We will present the variety at the national level and thereafter it will be available in the market. We are going to launch the variety next month," he said.