Lucknow, May 22: The mango growers of Malihabad, continuing their tradition of naming new mango varieties after renowned personalities, have now introduced a new variety named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his fondness for the fruit.
According to Upendra Singh from Malihabad, the new mango variety, referred to as a “desi” mango, possesses a broad upper part resembling the Prime Minister’s famous 56-inch chest remark. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has officially registered the variety and issued a certificate of registration to Singh, thereby exclusively reserving the name ‘Modi’ for this mango type.
The ‘Modi’ mango is characterized by its high pulp content and minimal fiber, akin to the famous Dussehri mango variety from Lucknow’s renowned mango belt in Malihabad. Unlike many other traditional ‘desi’ mangoes that tend to be excessively sweet, the ‘Modi’ mango exhibits a mild sweetness.
Singh explained that the new variety was developed by crossbreeding two ‘desi’ mango varieties. ‘Desi’ mangoes are typically seedling varieties, grown from seeds. Singh had been diligently working on this hybrid since 2019.
During the mango festival held in Lucknow earlier this year, Singh presented the ‘Modi’ mango variety and subsequently applied for its registration under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Right Authority (PPVFA).
Interestingly, Singh is not the first person to create a mango variety named after the Prime Minister. Back in 2015, Padma Shri Haji Kalimullah, renowned as Lucknow’s ‘mango man,’ had successfully developed a new variety by crossing Kolkata’s Husn-e-Aara with Lucknow’s Dussehri, and he named it ‘NaMo’.
Adding to the list, another notable mango expert, Ashok Chaudhary, known as the ‘mango man’ of Bhagalpur, had earlier this year introduced the Modi-3 mango variety, following his previous developments of Modi-1 and Modi-2 mango varieties.
The naming of mango varieties after famous personalities continues to be a unique and cherished tradition among mango growers, showcasing their creativity and admiration for notable individuals.
