Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 22 (HBTV): As summer arrives, mango lovers across India savour popular varieties such as Hapus, Pairi, Lalbagh, and Keshar. However, one farmer from Pune has taken mango cultivation to a another level by growing rare and exotic international varieties, including the famed Miyazaki mango from Japan.

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

Among his prized collections is the Miyazaki mango, known for its exceptionally high market value—reportedly fetching up to INR 2.7 lakh per kilo in Japan and around INR 1.5 lakh per kilo in India.

Inamdar’s journey began during a pilgrimage to Hajj, where he was introduced to a wide range of mango species from around the world. Inspired by this experience, he imported saplings from multiple countries and began cultivating them on his Pune farm.

Now, two years later, his orchard boasts an impressive collection of global mango varieties such as Red African, Red Taiwan, Arunika, Banana Mango, A2 R2 from Australia, Katomoni and Shahjahan from Bangladesh, and the much-coveted Miyazaki.

While most exotic mangoes are priced in the range of several thousand rupees per kilo, the Miyazaki remains the most expensive. A single kilo typically consists of four to six mangoes, each weighing around 300 grams.

Inamdar also highlighted another exceptional variety called Koyatur, a high-yielding tree that produces 8–10 kilos of fruit each season. These mangoes are sold at prices ranging from INR 1,500 to INR 5,000 per fruit.

Buoyed by his success, Inamdar plans to expand his cultivation efforts and introduce even more rare mango varieties from around the world. He also mentioned receiving several inquiries from online buyers but clarified that he has reserved this season’s harvest for personal consumption.

(ANI)