Indo-Israel Centre trains Gujarat farmers in high-density mango plantation

New Delhi [India], May 8 : The Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Mango in Talala town in Gujarat's Gir Somnath district is providing training to farmers on high-density mango plantation and farming, a method already popular in countries like Israel and Australia.
A farmer can plant up to 400 plants on one acre of land and may earn up to Rs 3 to 4 lakh.
VH Barad, SMS and horticulture officer at the Centre, told ANI that high-density farming is a new concept in India but is well-established in Israel. Established in 2012 with Israeli cooperation, the Centre offers training to farmers and updates them on the latest research in mango farming.
According to Barad, high-density farming is more manageable and profitable compared to traditional methods. It involves cutting down 40-foot trees to 10-12 feet to rejuvenate them and planting new trees in the gaps. This method yields fruit within three years.
"High-density farming can also cater to low production due to climate change. As we can grow more plants in a small land. They can be maintained by pruning and pesticides. In this way, a farmer can get good exportable quality mangos from High-density farming," he said.
The Centre not only educates and trains farmers but also provides them with mango saplings at discounted rates. Last year, it trained 3.5 thousand farmers and supplied 25-30 thousand saplings.
In addition to high-density mango plantation, farmers are also exploring exotic mango farming, focusing on varieties like Miyazaki from Japan, Tomy Atkins from the US, and other breeds from Thailand and other countries.
Sumeet Shamsuddin Jharia, a farmer from Sasan Gir, Gujarat, mentioned that they have collected around 300 varieties of mangoes at their farm, including exotic, high-breed, and traditional Indian breeds.
"Miyazaki is the costliest variety of Mango which may cost between Rs. 1000 to 10000. It has good taste and becomes red once ripped. To encourage the framer a price of upto Rs. 2.5 to 2.75 lakh per Kg given to farmers in Japan," he said.
He highlighted varieties like Miyazaki, known for its high price and taste, and Tomy Atkins, which is diabetes-friendly due to its low sugar content. They also cultivate Maya mangoes, a top variety in Israel.
"We are planting these plants and then selling them to the farmers, Sumeet said. We also give training to the students at colleges," he added.
Furthermore, they offer training to college students and propagate disease-resistant varieties like Sonpari developed by crossing Alphonso and Begampalli mangoes.
In High-Density Mango plantations, plants are spaced closer together, and their height is maintained through trimming and pruning. Within three years, each plant matures and begins bearing fruit, with one acre potentially yielding Rs 3-4 lakhs in income, Sumeet claimed.