A farmer in Kirugavalu, a village in the Mandya district of southern India, has gained attention for his rare farm that boasts over 119 varieties of mangoes, which may not be found anywhere else in the world.
According to a report by The National News, Syed Ghani Khan‘s farm is home to mango trees that are over 200 years old! Moreover, the farm proudly states that since the time of Khan’s ancestors, they have had the honor of sending fruits to the palaces of the Mysore Maharajas due to their unique and delicious flavor.
Syed Ghani Khan.
“According to our records, these trees have been preserved for seven generations. This place is called bada bagh (big garden) and we have over 160 varieties of mangoes,” Khan shared.
The variations of mangoes on Khan’s farm are so unique that they have distinct shapes and flavors. Some resemble apples but taste like bananas, others look like sweet lemons, while some have no sweetness typical of regular mangoes, and others taste sweet like fennel.
Mangoes in Khan’s garden.
Furthermore, the mangoes here defy traditional fruit seasons, yielding crops regardless of climate change and erratic weather. Khan has even delivered many mangoes to the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, where studies have been conducted on them, stating that these mangoes are unique and not grown anywhere else. Approximately 60% of the varieties have been preserved and developed at the institute.
Additionally, Somesh Basavanna, the CEO of Sahaja Samrudha, an organic production company in India that retails Khan’s mangoes, mentioned that the mangoes are in high demand, making them highly sought after in stores.
