Mangoes, Millions & Mukesh Ambani: A King-Sized Fruit Tale

While Ambani exports tonnes of fruit across Asia, Inamdar experiments with rare and exotic varieties like the Japanese Miyazaki. Together, they illustrate how mangoes are not only connecting people to the soil but also turning seasonal affection into a fruitful venture rooted in love, legacy, and vision

Whenever we think of fruits, 'the king of fruits' is often the first one that comes to mind. This sweet, delicious fruit is more than just a summer treat. Mango holds a special place in the hearts of many because of its rich taste and great agricultural heritage.

Mango is one of the most popular fruits in the world, which is grown in large quantities in many nations because of its high demand. With an annual production of about 25 to 26 million tonnes, India is the biggest producer of mangoes accounting for around 50 per cent mango production in the world. Famous varieties like Dasheri, Kesar and Alphonso can be found there. Following India, China produces roughly 4.1 million tonnes, followed by Indonesia and Pakistan. Mango farming is aided by these nations' warm climates, fertile soil and effective irrigation.

Other major mango-producing nations include Mexico, Brazil, Malawi, Thailand, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Each of these nations cultivates unique regional types of mangoes that are popular both domestically and abroad. Mangoes come in a wide variety of flavours and varieties, ranging from firm and fibrous to sweet and juicy. These leading mango-producing countries not only provide food for their citizens but also export mangoes to other countries, making the fruit a summertime favourite all over the world.

But besides most of us who enjoy mango, there is a man whose love for mango is more than just a seasonal affection for fruit, it turned out to be his global success story. The person we are talking about is one of Asia's richest people. Synonymous with big business, telecom, and oil, the person is none other than Mukesh Ambani. Sharing a lifelong fondness for mangoes with his father, Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh turned this cherishment into a story.

Turning a barren land of 600 acres in Jamnagar, Gujarat, into a lush orchard. Mukesh made a home for 1.5 lakh mango trees in this huge area. Growing more than 200 different types of fruits, these include popular Indian varieties like Alphonso, Kesar, Ratna, and international varieties like Tommy Atkins and Kent, imported from Florida and Israel.

Besides the humongous size of the farm, it's also known for its technology. Usually taken care of by Nita Ambani, the orchard entails eco-friendly methods like drip irrigation, desalinated and harvested rainwater, and carefully planned fertilization. With these practices, around 600 tonnes of mangoes are produced, contributing to most of them being exported, thereby making Reliance the largest mango exporter in Asia.

However, it's not just the business, but Reliance also distributes mango saplings to farmers around the nearby area and trains them in modern farming techniques. This, in turn, has helped them uplift their income and promote eco-friendly agriculture in the region.

This initiative of Mukesh Ambani, which started as his cherished love for mango, has ventured into a successful business that's benefiting nature, community, and innovation.

As summer sets in, mango lovers across the country indulge in seasonal delights like Hapus, Pairi, Lalbagh, and Keshar. But one farmer in Pune has taken his passion for mangoes to a global scale, cultivating rare and exotic varieties, including the world-famous Miyazaki mango from Japan.

Farooq Inamdar, a farmer and a former local politician from Varvand village of Pune district in Maharashtra, has successfully grown 120 mango trees on just 20 guntas (half an acre) of land. Of these, 90 are international varieties, while 30 are native to India.

Among his prized collections is the Miyazaki mango, renowned for its exorbitant price, fetching as much as Rs 2.7 lakh per kilo in Japan and around Rs1.5 lakh per kilo in India.

Inamdar's journey toward cultivating these rare species began during a pilgrimage to the Hajj, where he witnessed a vast selection of mangoes from around the world. Inspired, he imported saplings from various countries and began growing them on his farm in Pune.

Two years later, Inamdar’s trees have successfully borne fruit, with his farm now hosting global varieties such as Red African, Red Taiwan, Arunika, Banana Mango, A2 R2 from Australia, Katomoni and Shahjahan from Bangladesh, and the sought-after Miyazaki.

While most exotic mangoes command several thousand rupees per kilo, Miyazaki stands out for its premium pricing. A single kilo contains four to six mangoes, each weighing approximately 300 grams.

Inamdar also highlighted another high-yielding tree, "Koyatur," which produces 8-10 kilos of mangoes per season and fetches prices between Rs1,500 and Rs5,000 per fruit.

Encouraged by his success, he plans to expand his efforts by cultivating even more rare mango varieties worldwide. Inamdar also clarified that although he is getting several demands from online buyers for his mangoes, he decided to use all the mangoes this time for his consumption.