PANAJI
In May, mango prices have dropped, making them more affordable for everyone. Goan markets are overflowing with Hapus (Alfonso) mangoes from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Although the famous local variety, Mankurad, is still a bit pricey, its cost has decreased a bit from the initial high prices.
As of May 3, a dozen big Mankurad mangoes cost Rs 1200, while medium ones were Rs 1000, and smaller ones were Rs 800 per dozen. This is a drop from the Rs 1500-1800 price range for medium-sized Mankurad mangoes in April. Some people prefer Mankurad over other varieties because its pulp is more fibrous.
“We prefer Mankurad over Hapus because it is sweeter, and the seed is never sour, like in Hapus,” said Sharmila Dalal from Margao who prefers buying a whole ‘patlo’ (basketful) from the wholesalers who arrive in the wee hours at Pimpalaped area, just outside the New Market.
“I can bargain with them on the price and get a basketful. But here, I do not have the luxury to choose or check each piece. Whatever is there in the basket, I have to accept,” she said.
Other types are the local ‘ghota’, which are smaller and juicier, often used to make ‘Sasvaa’, a kind of sweet-spicy curry with coconut. This year, only a few locals sold ‘ghota’ because there wasn’t as much produced compared to last year. The scarcity of ‘ghota’ affected their price, which ranged from Rs 300-500 per dozen, depending on the size.
“The crop suffered due to unseasonal rains, and a full bloom was destroyed, so this year we are short of this local variety,” said a vendor, who sold ‘gavathi ghota’ for a price.
Goa grows various types of mangoes locally, like Mangilal, Ratna, Neelam, Totapuri, Colaco (Culas), Fernando (Fernand), Monserrato (Masurad), and more. Kesar, Payari, Malges, Karel, and Totapuri typically come from other states during May. When the rains start in June, we see Langda, Dashahara, and Mallika mangoes arriving. These mangoes have thick skin, so they can withstand the rains and don’t spoil easily.
“Kesar comes mostly from Gujarat, and this year it has not yet arrived, but Mallika is available for Rs 120 per kg,” said Suresh Mali, a vendor who buys in wholesale and sells in retail on his cart.
“Hapus number 1 size is priced at Rs 240 per kg, and you get only three pieces in a kilo. Size 2 Hapus is sold at Rs 200, and size 3 for Rs 160 per kg in the wholesale market,” informed Mali, adding the season for Masurad is not yet started, but Culas is available with local sellers in small quantities.
In shops, large Hapus mangoes cost Rs 700 per dozen, whereas a week ago, medium-sized Devgad Hapus were priced at Rs 800-850 per dozen, and small ones ranged from Rs 650-750 per dozen. There’s more supply now as the season reaches its peak in May. Sundar, an organic Hapus grower from Devgad, sells boxes of one dozen to customers in Goa, Pune, and Mumbai for Rs 600 each, with an additional Rs 40 for transportation per box.
“I kept the price constant on Rs 600, but the transport charges are to be borne by the purchaser,” he said.
Unnati Bagnikar, a wholesaler from Ponda orders chemical-free Hapus from Konkan and sells at Rs 860 per dozen in Goa. Subodh Shevde, who also ordered from Ratnagiri and Devgad, sold Hapus for Rs 1000 per dozen in April.
