Direct sale of Dharwad Alphonso mangoes begins

Pic for representation only Dharwad: Direct sale of Dharwad Alphonso mangoes by a farmers' collective began on Friday at the Gandhi Shanti Pratishthan premises in the city.Honorary president of the Mango Growers' Association Rajendra Poddar said the initiative aims to eliminate middlemen, reduce farmers' losses and offer consumers naturally ripened, chemical-free mangoes, while ensuring better returns for growers.He said Alphonso mangoes are cultivated on over 60,000 acres across a North Karnataka cluster that includes Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Belagavi, Uttara Kannada and Vijayapura districts. Mangoes from the Dharwad region have a strong demand in international markets."Last year, Alphonso mangoes from this belt were exported to Singapore. This year, over 50 members of our group have secured HortiNet certification, which is mandatory for exports to other countries," Poddar said.Association member Subhas Akalwadi said erratic weather, pest infestation and crop diseases have affected yields this season. He added that heavy rains, hailstorms and strong winds in late February and early March caused further damage to the crop. A representation has been submitted seeking scientific solutions to address these challenges, he said.