Gir Kesar mango season ends, sales nearly double from last year

The season for the famed Gir Kesar mango, synonymous with the Gir region of Gujarat, came to an end at the Talala Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) yard on Thursday, with sales nearly doubling compared to last year, bringing significant gains to farmers.

Officials at the Talala yard, the principal trading centre for Kesar mangoes, said auctions concluded on Thursday, and the market would formally close on Friday.

According to yard data, around 9,44,500 boxes of Kesar mangoes, each weighing 10 kg, were traded during the 61-day season at an average price of ₹570 per box. In comparison, last year, 4,49,450 boxes were sold at an average price of ₹560 per box.

In total, nearly 9,445 tonnes of mangoes were traded through the yard this season, generating an estimated revenue of around ₹54 crore for growers.

Traders attributed the bumper season to favourable weather conditions. Good rainfall during the previous monsoon helped the crop develop well, while the absence of pre-monsoon showers and storms until the end of the harvesting season ensured minimal damage to the fruit.

Sources at the yard said exports continued despite some international markets, including Japan and Nepal, reportedly rejecting certain consignments. According to official figures, about 91 tonnes of Kesar mangoes were exported from the Talala yard, including 5 tonnes to the United States, 20 tonnes to the United Kingdom, 12 tonnes to Canada, and 4 tonnes to Dubai.

Apart from exports routed through Talala, Kesar mangoes grown in the Gir region were also shipped abroad through other channels, traders said.

Although arrivals at Talala have ceased, Kesar mango trading will continue for a few more days in other markets, including Gondal. Meanwhile, Kesar mangoes from Kutch have begun attracting significant attention in the market.

In Saurashtra, many members of the Jain community traditionally stop consuming mangoes after the Sun enters the Ardra constellation, a practice linked to religious beliefs concerning non-violence and health.