Farmers take to ‘Kesar’ mango plantation as high-density method brings in profits.

The area on which ‘Kesar’ variety of mango is grown has gone up by almost five times since 2022 in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, an official of the agriculture department has announced on Sunday.

According to the agricultural department, it has seen a rise of 2,741 hectares from 729 hectares in 2022-23 to 3,470 hectares in 2024-25 here, adding a similar trend was being observed in Jalna and Beed districts as well. “Due to good yields and returns, farmers have turned towards Kesar mango plantation. The saplings grow and start giving fruits in just 4-5 years. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar gets included in the Kesar cluster”, district superintending agriculture officer Prakash Deshmukh told Press.

The region also exported around 1,500 metric tons of the variety last year, he added. Mango expert Bhagwanrao Kapse told that the use of ultra-high density technology method is accommodating 580 to 622 trees per hectare. “Mango saplings were earlier planted at a distance of 33×33 feet. Now, this has come down to 14×5 feet. I saw this method in South Africa earlier in 2005. Now, farmers get 6 – 14 tons per acre with this high-density method, whereas average productivity in Maharashtra is between 03 – 04 tons”, he said.

Kesar mangoes are considered to be a rich source of various Vitamins, including A, C, E, and B6, which are essential for the overall well-being. Kesar mangoes can be identified by their bright golden-yellow skin, often with hints of orange or red on the sun-exposed side, and a slightly wrinkled texture. They have a distinct, sweet, and aromatic flesh that is usually slightly fibrous.

It is widely acclaimed that Kesar mango was first spotted by Sale Bhai, Junagadh Wazir in Vanthali Taluka. in 1934, the Muhammad Mahabat Khan III, Nawab of Junagadh remarked while looking at the beautiful orange flesh of the mango fruit, “This is Kesar!”.

Team Maverick.