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Gujarat's Kesar Mango Festival Returns: Farmers Sell GI-Tagged Dates Directly

Gujarat's Kesar Mango Festival-2026 will be held at Vastrapur Haat in Ahmedabad from May 16 to June 25, featuring direct sales of carbide-free mangoes and GI-tagged dates. The event includes 100 free stalls for farmer-producer organizations and natural farming groups to sell without intermediaries. Last year's festival recorded sales of over 3.30 lakh kg of mangoes valued at Rs 4 crore, demonstrating strong consumer participation. The initiative aims to strengthen direct market linkages and promote chemical-free agricultural products in urban centers.

Key Points: Kesar Mango Festival 2026: Direct Farm Sales in Ahmedabad

  • Direct sales model improves farmer price realisation
  • 100 stalls set up for mangoes and GI-tagged dates
  • Festival runs May 16 to June 25
  • Last year sold 3.30 lakh kg mangoes worth Rs 4 crore
2 min read

Gujarat: Farmers to sell mangoes, GI-tagged dates directly at 'Kesar Mango Festival-2026'

Gujarat's Kesar Mango Festival-2026 opens at Vastrapur Haat, offering direct farm-to-consumer sales of mangoes and GI-tagged dates, boosting farmer profits.

"The platform is also designed to provide farmers with wider market access within urban centres such as Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. - Officials"

Ahmedabad, May 15

Gujarat's Ahmedabad will once again see a large-scale farm-to-consumer initiative as the 'Kesar Mango Festival-2026' is set to begin at Vastrapur Haat, bringing together farmers, producer groups and urban buyers in a direct sales model aimed at improving price realisation for growers and expanding access to chemical-free fruit for consumers.

The festival, organised by Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation under the state Agriculture Department, will be virtually inaugurated on May 16 by Minister Jitu Vaghani.

Mango sales will continue till June 15, followed by GI-tagged date sales from June 16-25.

Around 100 stalls have been set up at the venue, including 85 stalls for mangoes and 15 stalls for GI-tagged dates.

These have been allotted free of cost to farmer-producer organisations, natural farming groups and individual farmers involved in mango and date cultivation, enabling direct retail without intermediaries.

The festival will feature carbide-free mangoes sourced from key producing regions, including Gir, Junagadh, Amreli, Kutch, Valsad and Navsari.

Alongside mango varieties, GI-tagged dates will also be available for direct purchase, marking a parallel focus on promoting geographically certified produce.

Officials have stated that the initiative aims to strengthen direct market linkages between farmers and consumers, with an emphasis on natural farming and chemical-free agricultural products.

The platform is also designed to provide farmers with wider market access within urban centres such as Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.

Data from previous editions indicates strong consumer participation. Last year's festival recorded sales of more than 3.30 lakh kilograms of mangoes within a single month, valued at approximately Rs four crore.

In addition, a five-day mango festival organised during the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Surat saw the sale of 5,685 kilograms of mangoes worth over Rs 7.84 lakh.

The Kesar Mango Festival was first launched in Gujarat in 2007 and has since been held annually during the summer season.

It has evolved into a recurring marketplace connecting farmers directly with consumers and serving as a platform for seasonal fruit distribution across major cities in the state.

This year's edition continues the same model, with structured participation from farmer organisations and producer groups, alongside direct retail of produce from multiple horticultural regions of Gujarat.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

J
James A
Impressive! As someone who works in agriculture supply chains in the US, it's refreshing to see a government initiative that actually cuts out middlemen. The GI-tagging for dates adds authenticity. I wonder if they could digitize this model for year-round access?
P
Priya S
I remember buying mangoes from this festival last year - the taste was divine compared to market ones! Carbide-free is a big plus for health-conscious families. My only concern: parking at Vastrapur Haat during weekends is a nightmare. Hope authorities arrange better logistics this time. Still, definitely planning to go again! 😊
M
Michael C
Great to see Gujarat promoting its agricultural heritage. The GI-tagged dates are a smart addition - it's not just about mangoes but building a brand around regional produce. I recently read that India's mango exports have huge potential; such festivals can help standardize quality.
V
Vikram M
While I appreciate the initiative, I wish they'd expand this to smaller towns too. Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar get all the benefits while farmers from remote villages still struggle with middlemen. Also, 100 stalls seems limited for a state as large as Gujarat, but I hope the model scales up over time. Baby steps I guess.
A
Ananya R
This is exactly the kind of initiative that empowers our farmers! The ₹4 crore revenue from mangoes last year shows the huge demand for quality produce. I love that they're promoting natural farming too - better for our health and the environment. A big thank you to Gujarat Agro Industries and all the farmers! 🙏

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