Rup Narayan Dhakal

Pokhara, July 7:

With the arrival of summer season, the king of the fruits mango has become the most consumed fruit in Pokhara. Entire markets and footpaths have been filled with mangoes. Mangoes, supplied from different parts of Nepal and India have lured most locals. Mangoes have been so popular due to their sweet taste, said Bishwa Ghimire, manager of Agro Products market, Pokhara. “About 15 tonnes of mangoes are being purchased by retailers daily in Pokhara for sale,” informed Rupa GC, plan assistant of Agro products market

Management Committee, Pokhara, “The sale of mangoes started in March will continue till September.” Mangoes in Pokhara are being supplied mostly from Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari and Surkhet and from various parts of India. Bambaiya, Dashahari, Maldaha and Kalkatiya variety of mangoes are available in the local market of Pokhara.

According to the statistics of Agro Products Market, Pokhara, the retail price of Nepali mangoes is about Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg and that of India-produced mangoes is Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kg. Mangoes are ripened artificially using pesticides, but the quality control office here has not conducted any study regarding the effect of such mangoes on health. The chief of the office, Batuk Nath Karna said, “We eat mangoes but we do not know of any adverse effect it causes on our health.’ Pokhara itself is not able to produce mangoes due to its cool climate.