Team Herald
MARGAO: Stating that Mankurad is a symbol of Goenkarponn, Ravindra Bhavan chairperson Prashant Naik said the Mankurad Mango Festival should be an annual feature with a date fixed to ensure that no other festival is held on that day.
Speaking at the second Mankurad Mango Festival organized by Transform Goa, he congratulated the organizers and the participants.
He particularly appreciated John de Sa who dreams of exporting Mankurad mangoes to the world and said everybody should work towards this goal.
While 20 vendors participated in the festival displaying and selling their mangoes and mango products, there were four participants who sold Mankurad saplings.
The main attraction was the San Thome amo displayed by Thomas Antonio da Costa as this is the only tree of this variety and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research is currently studying this variety of mango which is close but different to Mankurad.
San Thome weighs around 400-500 grams and has erratic fruiting pattern, which is why probably it is not grown much. However, its taste is exemplary and Thomas da Costa had brought some fruit slices for visitors to taste. Incidentally, he prepares grafts of this variety for mango growers.
The Mankurad by Raul Costa from Curtorim bagged the first prize, the second place went to Lyria Mendonca from Curtorim and Agnelo Caiado from Goa Velha was awarded the third prize.
Well known horticulturist Mingues Braganza and Chef Avinash Martins were the members of the jury that judged the mangoes on display at the festival.
