Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Shoppers are ditching chemical-tainted fruit. They want the real thing. Roadside vendors in Haflong are seeing a massive surge in demand for mangoes ripened naturally on the tree. These locally grown fruits from Dima Hasao are beating out imported varieties on both sweetness and texture.
The district produces a wide range of stock. Farmers bring indigenous seedlings, Bombay, Langra, Himsagar, and Amrapali varieties to market. Many villages also harvest traditional hill mangoes, which buyers praise for their punchy aroma and juicy pulp.
Local Congress leader Nandita Gorlosa sampled the fruit recently. She noted the stark difference in quality. "While travelling, I met Ayung, a mango vendor, and found both varieties to be absolutely delightful - sweet, fleshy, and full of flavour. In light of reports about chemical ripening, the locally sourced, natural mangoes are undoubtedly superior."
Vendor Ayung reports high repeat business because the flavor keeps customers hooked. "People who taste our mangoes always come back. These fruits ripen naturally on the trees and their flavour speaks for itself," Ayung said. He believes better government promotion could turn these mangoes into a regional staple similar to Tezpur litchis.
Agriculture experts suggest the district has potential for growth. They call for better marketing, improved grading, and stronger transport links to help farmers secure higher prices. Strengthening cooperatives and post-harvest infrastructure could turn the region into a premium supplier for the state.
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