Kesar Mango Orchards of Sabarkantha: Aravalli Hill Cultivation

Sabarkantha's Aravalli hill slopes provide ideal conditions for mango (Mangifera indica) cultivation at altitudes between 200-500 metres. The Kesar variety, developed in Junagadh but successfully introduced in Sabarkantha, is particularly valued for its saffron-orange flesh, floral fragrance, and thin skin. Mango orchards cover hillside terraces where red laterite soil, moderate rainfall, and cool winter temperatures produce intensely flavoured fruit compared to plains-grown mangoes. The harvest season (May-June) is a festival time in Sabarkantha, with packing houses hiring hundreds of seasonal workers. Traditional varieties include Langra, Dashehari, and local landraces maintained by older orchard families. Intercropping mango orchards with turmeric and ginger is common, using the orchard shade and mulch. Sabarkantha's mango cooperatives link farmers with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Federation's agri-processing division for mango pulp production.