A couple in Madhya Pradesh has employed four security guards and six dogs to defend two Miyazaki mango trees they have cultivated in their orchard. Japanese Miyazaki mangoes are the most costly variety of mango in the world. Sankalp Parihas, a Jabalpur native, was handed some mango seedlings by a man while on a train to Chennai. He and his wife Rani planted two of the seedlings in their orchard in the hopes of them growing into regular mango trees. Their surprise knew no bounds when the mangoes that grew on the trees matured to be ruby red rather than yellow or green.
The pair was taken aback when they discovered the crimson mangoes. But it wasn’t until they did additional study on the uncommon fruit that they realised they’d hit the jackpot.
Miyazaki mangoes from Japan are one of the most costly mango varieties in the world, with a strong demand in the international and exotic fruit markets. They sold for Rs 2.70 lakh per kilogramme on the foreign market last year.
The pair has already begun getting orders for the mangoes and claims to have numerous offers on the table. A Gujarat-based trader reportedly offered the couple Rs 21,000 for a mango apiece, according to the sources.
Mangoes are high in beta-carotene, folic acid, and antioxidants, making them beneficial to those with impaired vision. They are named after Miyazaki, a Japanese city where red mangoes were originally grown.
