Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the three-day ‘Aam Mahotsav’ (mango festival) on Friday. The festival will showcase more than 800 mango varieties across seven categories and 56 subcategories at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.Describing the festival as more than an exhibition, minister of state (independent charge) for horticulture and agricultural marketing Dinesh Pratap Singh said it is a platform to recognise farmers and orchardists and to project Uttar Pradesh’s horticultural potential in domestic and international markets.Uttar Pradesh is India’s largest mango producer, with an output of around 62 lakh metric tonnes grown over about 3.3 lakh hectares, contributing nearly 26.2% of national mango production. Popular varieties grown in the state include Dussehri, Langra, Chausa, Gaurjeet, Lucknow Safeda, Rataul and Amrapali. Major mango belts span the Lucknow, Saharanpur, Meerut, Moradabad, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj divisions.Citing APEDA data, Singh pointed to a sharp rise in exports from the state. Exports of mangoes and pulp increased from 404 metric tonnes worth more than Rs 2.6 crore in 2024-25 to 3,563 metric tonnes valued at more than Rs 12.7 crore in 2025-26. Uttar Pradesh mangoes are being shipped to markets including the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Qatar and Russia, with additional consignments expected during the festival.He said modern pack-houses in Lucknow, Saharanpur, Varanasi and Amroha handle pre-processing and treatments as per international protocols, and a fruit testing and treatment centre is being built near Jewar Airport to support exports.Festival attractions include mango-eating competitions for children, contests for mango-based dishes and technical workshops on post-harvest management, pest and disease control, and marketing.A ‘Mango Buyer-Seller Meet’ on Saturday will connect growers with buyers, with participation from orchardists and exporters from multiple states.
