Ever wanted to know how many varieties of mangoes one can find in an area of 161 acres? The Fruit Research Station (FRS) in Sangareddy grows a mind-boggling 470 varieties of mangoes in the orchards on the campus, covering almost every variety of the fruit in the world.
Speaking to Telangana Today, Porike Harikanth, Farm Manager and scientist, said the FRS had brought over 500 kinds of mango varieties from across the globe and is raising them in the 161-acre campus. About 470 varieties of mangoes are available at the research station this year.
Harikanth said he can say without hesitation that people can find any variety of mango grown in any corner of the world here in Sangareddy. The mango orchard is divided into three blocks. The second block has the highest number of mango varieties. During the harvest season, mango traders get the rights of harvest through e-tender. Following the guidelines of the research institute, Harikanth said traders have to set up their stalls only on the premises of FRS.
MD Moinuddin, whose family has been setting up of a stall here since 1952, says they get customers from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and all corners of the country. However, a majority of the customers are from Telangana, neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, he said.
The mangoes are packed in special covers for customers from other places. The FRS, a research institute under Prof Jayashankar Agriculture University, has been witnessing hectic activity as it has been attracting a large number of mango lovers from across the nation.
