BHAGALPUR: Besides bringing accolades for the region, the mouthwatering Jardaalu variety of mango (botanical name Mangifera indica) has come handy for the state government in promoting diplomacy and the ‘Brand Bihar’.
The juicy Jardaalu, a unique species of mango fruit cultivated in this region, is being readied for presenting to the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil, vice-President M Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries of the country by the state government.
The Jardaalu variety of mango has unique aroma, flavor and sweetness that linger long on the taste buds of persons, whoever savors it. In view of its uniqueness and specialty, the state government asked the district administration and the agriculture department to procure the special variety of mango so that it can be gifted to the country’s dignitaries.
Altogether 400-450 packets of Jardaalu mangoes are being readied for transshipment to the state headquarters and thereby to the country’s capital for presenting it to the dignitaries. Each packet will contain nearly five kilograms (20-24 pieces) of delicious mangoes.
Interestingly, since 2007 the unique variety of Jardaalu was selected from the mango orchard of Ashok Chowdhary, a horticulturist of Mahesi village under Sultanganj block of this district. The mangoes of Chowdhary’s orchard were found to be best on all counts on earlier occasions, said agriculture department sources.
District Agriculture Officer (DAO) Dinesh Kumar Singh said that we are proud that Jardaalu mangoes of Bhagalpur have secured a place on the dining tables of Indian dignitaries.
“We are on the process of procuring for the best of mango and apart from Ashok Chowdhary’s orchard we are also looking for Bihar Agriculture College (Sabour) orchard, etc so that it can be send to the dignitaries in the first week of June 2011, said DAO.
Orchard owner Ashok Chowdhary, when contacted, said that Jardaalu mangoes are not be just mangoes to be consumed by the dignitaries, but it carries our (Bhagalpur and Bihar’s) positive image also. It is immaterial from which orchard it is procured, added he.
“Yeh hamaray liye garv ki baat hai” (it is a matter of pride for us), said Mukutdhari Agarwal, president of Eastern Bihar Industries Association (EBIA). It has created a brand image for Bhagalpur and Bihar, said he adding it would be great if the dignitaries visit here and see for themselves how the people of this region make effort in growing sweet mangoes, commercial activities et-al despite odds.