Rajkot: Despite climate challenges such as unseasonal rains, erratic weather and major cyclones like Tauktae, the king of fruits — mango — is not just surviving but thriving across Saurashtra. Data from the Gujarat horticulture department shows a steady rise in mango cultivation, with the area under the fruit expanding by nearly 10,000 hectares and production rising by over 1 lakh metric tonnes in the last five years.Once limited to traditional growing areas such as Junagadh and Gir Somnath, mango cultivation has now spread to nearly all talukas of Saurashtra. While farmers grow a few experimental hybrid varieties like sonpari and pusa arunima and heirloom varieties from the Nawab era such as dudh pendo and begam pasand, it is the kesar mango that dominates and drives this expansion.Official figures reflect this surge. In 2020-21, the area under kesar cultivation stood at about 35,000 hectares, with production of 1.89 lakh metric tonnes. By 2024-25, the cultivation area had increased to over 44,000 hectares, pushing production to 3.15 lakh metric tonnes. Data for 2025-26, including the last mango season, is yet to be released.Experts attribute the success of the kesar mango to its flavour, natural resistance to common diseases and strong export demand, particularly among the Gujarati diaspora in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe.Changing investment patterns have also played a role. Sources said several high-net-worth individuals are “parking” money in farmland, especially in the Gir region, and opting for mango cultivation. A farmer said, “These people don’t grow for profit but as a hobby. They want mango orchards where they can relax with family and friends and distribute the fruit in their groups.”The cultivation map is also undergoing a visible shift. D K Varu, principal and dean of the College of Horticulture at Junagadh Agricultural University, said new pockets of growth are emerging. “Young farmers are experimenting and expanding. New kesar-growing areas have developed, including the hilly terrain between Ranavav (Porbandar), Bhanvad and Kalyanpur (Devbhumi Dwarka), Upleta (Rajkot) and Jesar in Amreli district,” he said. He added that districts such as Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi and Jamnagar are also adopting kesar cultivation.Tushar Dhameliya, director of a local Farmer Producer Organization in the Gir area, said young farmers are shifting from traditional crops to horticulture. “Young farmers are moving towards horticulture from traditional crops and kesar mango is their first choice because it is a cash crop and requires minimal extra care after the initial two to three years,” he said. Dhameliya noted that while many farm commodities struggle to fetch good prices, “Mangoes guarantee a good price in the urban market and offer huge potential for exports, giving farmers a chance to earn in dollars.“
