Banginapalli glory on the decline

Kurnool: Banginapalli mango is one of the finest fruit varieties that everyone wants to taste its lusciousness. The king of fruits was having a great craze among the people, but now the fruit is losing its glory with fewer yields with every passing year.

According to the sources, the Nawabs of Banaganapalle in Kurnool district introduced the mango variety centuries ago which spread to other parts. He was said to have brought the fruit variety from Aurangabad which is famous for mangoes.  

Between 1790 and 1948, Banaganapalle was the capital of a princely state of the same name. This mango is also known as ‘Benishan’ (the king) and ‘Laddupasand’ (the minister) in local area. The fruit is used to be grown in the rain-fed areas. 

This mango variety is cultivated in Kurnool, Krishna, West Godavari and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and Khammam, Adilabad, Karimnagar and Medak districts of Telangana state. In Kurnool district, the mangos crops are being raised in an extent of 9,000 hectares of them the Banginapalli mangos occupy the major area of 2,000 hectares.

In course of time the cultivation extent of this variety has declined to 600 hectares in the district. Poor arrivals of mango this season has caused a setback in the sales of the fruit and dealers have lost their hopes of prospects of any improvement in the yield. Due to the heavy shortage in the mango production, the prices of Banginapalli mango have gone up like anything.  One has to spend at least Rs.70 to Rs.80 to taste a mango.

Despite the popularity of the fruit and high demand in the market, farmers of Banginapalli mango are not happy because of steep fluctuations in prices.  The fruit is controlled by middlemen which forces the farmers to auction their orchards before the onset of flowering.

As per the district horticulture department, this mango variety is now being raised in very less extent of 600 hectares compared to 2,000 hectares earlier. This dire situation has taken place because its maintenance expenditure is very high compared to other mango varieties.

And the main problem is the farmers are facing water scarcity due to decline in ground water levels. Moreover, the farmers are not ready to bear continuous losses by taking up the Banginapalli variety. A farmer Somula Naik of Banaganapalle said to The Hans India  that he had raised the mango crop in an extent of 8 acres.

There were no adequate rains for the last three years due to which several farmers have abandoned the cultivation of the variety.  This year untimely rains and gusty winds have damaged half of the crop. 

The fruit merchants Mohammed Khan and Salim also spoke to The Hans India and said that they are continuing the fruits business since their forefathers’ period. 

By Narendra Kumar