The much-anticipated mango mela, which is organised annually at Lalbagh Botanical Garden by the Horticulture department, will begin from June 2 and will go on for nine days until June 11. Although around 100-120 stalls used to be set up for the farmers every year, this year, only 40 stalls will be put up at the mela.
While the mela itself has been delayed due to the Assembly elections this year, the reduction in the number of stalls has upset the farmers.
“The Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL) said that they had to cut down on the number of stalls because there is a shortage of funds. We met the newly appointed Horticulture Minister and told him about this problem and requested him to take steps for the welfare of mango farmers. He has assured us that he will soon hold a meeting and look into our problems,” said Dharanish Kumar, president, Kanakapura and Channapatna Mango Growers’ Association.
