Miguel Braganza
Sattari, the taluka that produced Mankurad mangoes was literally taken by a storm this year: high velocity winds have knocked out the mature mangoes before they could be plucked from the trees, ripened and relished.
The All Goa Mango Show and other sporadic mango exhibitions organised by the Directorate of Agriculture or Lion’s Club of Avedem-Paroda in 1982, 1987, 1992, 1994, 2014, 2015 and 2023 have come to an end and so has the Konkan Fruit Fest (KFF) of the Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) that gave a continuity to the fruit festivals from 2003 to 2025. Fortunately, the Agricos Alumni Association (AAA), Goa, has stepped in to organise a similar event at Navelim in mid-May. Before that, the Museum of Goa (MOG) will hold a mango related exhibition this weekend.
The jackfruit tree is recognised by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO of UN) as the ‘Food of the Future’. It can survive drought and high temperatures and still bear fruit. Tender jackfruit, used fresh, frozen, dehydrated or preserved in brine, can be made into good bhajji. The mature but unripe carpels (goreh in Konkani) of jackfruit are called ‘Vegan chicken’ (salu in Konkani, possibly from the Latin sal meaning salt) and can be used in curries or biryani. One can make gluten-free roti or bread, biscuits and cakes with jackfruit seed flour. Pranjal Parab (nee Sumati) and Sunetra Talaulikar have held three very successful hands-on training courses in jackfruit processing at the Goa College of Agriculture at Ela Farm, Old Goa. Some of the trainees are sure to participate in the fruit product competitions.
There are plenty of other fruits that will come into focus at the ‘Konkan Fruit Fiesta’ which will be held from May 15 to 17 in Navelim and they might also have a good range of mangoes, three of which now have Geographical Indication’ or G.I. tag for Goa. ‘Manga Hilario’ and ‘Monserrate’ mangoes are also available in mid-May, along with the end of the season ‘Mankurad’ mangoes. Making of jacada of jackfruit, perada or guava cheese and jam-like mangada of ripe mangoes, is being revived, along with a range of candies, juices, wines, pickles, cakes, souffle etc. Plenty of products to make, compete, win prizes and enjoy at the festival.
