A pair of farmers have grown the "world's most costly mangoes" by mistake and now require a special security force to protect them. A fellow passenger asked Sankalp Singh Parihar from India if he wanted a particular mango sapling for Rs 2,500 ($33) aboard a train to Chennai a few years ago.
Farmers Who Accidentally Grew 'World's Most Expensive' Mangoes Forced to Hire Security
By
Haider Ali in
News
On 25th June 2021
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He agreed to take a chance. After a few months, however, he began to notice something unusual about them.
Speaking to Vice, he said: "I did not know what the mango breed was but I named it Damini after my mother and planted it.”
"I grew it [the sapling] like an ordinary mango plant, but a few months later, saw that it had developed a beautiful red color."
Credit: Sankalp Singh Parihar
When news of his produce got out, Parihar claimed he was offered a large sum of money.
"It was only when they offered me more than Rs 21,000 ($283) for it that I realized it was something valuable," he told the publication.
What Parihar had bought from the guy on the train turned out to be a Miyazaki mango, which has been known to sell for thousands at special Japanese auctions.
Credit: Sankalp Singh Parihar
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According to sources, the fruit comes from the Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu, Japan's southernmost island.
It is also treated seriously, as it must be cultivated in particular conditions, with nets suspended in the air to ensure that the sugar content is just right and that each one weighs at least 350 grams.
Parihar, on the other hand, saw that none of this was required in India.
He said: "Since I did not know what breed these mangoes were, I grew them like I would grow any ordinary Indian variety like the Alphonso."
Adding: "My vision is that every Indian household should be able to afford this mango.”
"In Japan, it is expensive because it is grown in an expensive environment. In India, we can grow it naturally and cut down on expenses."
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Following media coverage of Parihar's expensive mangoes, thieves broke into his field and took more than a dozen of them.
As a result, he now has a special security force to guard the 52 he has.
He said: "Last year after a local news channel reported that we had these mangoes, a thief broke in and stole 14 mangoes.”
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"So now, we have hired a team of guards and pay them Rs 8,000 ($108) every month.”
"I would rather pay for security than lose these mangoes, which to us are worth so much more than money."
Adding: "These are our babies and our focus right now is to keep nurturing them and using the fruits' seeds to plant new ones. "