More than 3,000 exhibits representing nearly 800 mango varieties showcased; Malihabad’s Mohammad Iqbal Ahmad named Best Exhibitor
Lucknow: The three-day Uttar Pradesh Mango Festival 2026 concluded on a vibrant and celebratory note at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, drawing thousands of visitors, growers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and mango enthusiasts from across the country. Organized under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the festival highlighted the state’s rich mango heritage while showcasing innovations in horticulture, food processing, and agricultural exports.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Horticulture, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Foreign Trade and Agricultural Export Promotion, Dinesh Pratap Singh, who distributed awards and certificates to more than 180 winners across various categories.
Over 180 Awards Presented
During the concluding session, awards were presented across seven major categories and 56 competition classes dedicated to different mango varieties. A total of 147 prizes, including first, second, and third positions, were awarded to 51 winners.
In the category of mango-based processed products, 33 awards were distributed among 19 winners across 11 classes. Additionally, three winners were recognized in the mango culinary competition for their innovative mango-based dishes.
The coveted Best Mango Exhibit Award was presented to Mohammad Iqbal Ahmad of Awadh Nursery, Malihabad, for his outstanding display of the Chausa mango variety. Among the festival’s top performers, Mohammad Iqbal Ahmad secured an impressive 20 awards, while Mohammad Abdul Salim of Zaid Nursery, Malihabad, won 17 awards. Suresh Chandra Shukla of Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, received 14 awards.
Suresh Chandra Shukla also earned first place for displaying the highest number of mango varieties—190 in total. Second place went to Upendra Singh of Awadh Mango Growers Cooperative Association, Mal, for exhibiting 92 varieties, while Surya Mani Yadav of Jaunpur secured third place with 24 varieties.
Children’s Mango-Eating Contest Draws Attention
One of the most popular attractions of the festival was the mango-eating competition for children aged between eight and twelve years.
Ruchir Shukla, son of Colonel Rishabhi Shukla from Lucknow, secured first place. Arikta Singh, daughter of Dr. Dhirendra Singh from Lucknow, was declared second, while Deepanshu Yadav, son of Ramesh Kumar Yadav from Basti, finished third.
Nearly 800 Mango Varieties on Display
The festival featured an extraordinary collection of nearly 800 mango varieties, making it one of the most diverse mango exhibitions in the country.
Visitors were able to explore renowned Uttar Pradesh varieties such as Dussehri, Langra, Chausa, Gaurjeet, Lucknow Safeda, Rataul, and Amrapali. Alongside these traditional favourites, several colourful and exotic varieties—including Awadh Abhaya, Awadh Samriddhi, Sundarja, Vanraj, Tommy Atkins, Sensation, Arunika, and Ambika—captured significant public attention.
A total of 1,390 participants displayed 2,667 mango exhibits, while 111 participants showcased 365 samples of processed mango products. Altogether, 1,501 participants presented 3,032 exhibits, representing an increase of nearly six percent over the previous year.
The exhibition also featured high-tech nursery products, including lotus plants, dragon fruit saplings, date palm plants, and various horticultural innovations. Stalls offering mango-based delicacies such as mango ice cream, mango jalebi, mango panna, mango halwa, and mango rasgulla emerged as major crowd-pullers.
Focus on Food Processing and Entrepreneurship
The final day of the festival included a technical session focusing on food processing, entrepreneurship, and employment generation. Farmers, women’s self-help groups, students, startups, and agri-entrepreneurs participated in discussions on value addition and emerging opportunities in the food processing sector.
Experts delivered presentations on the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy 2023, dehydration technologies, traditional mango drying methods, fermentation techniques, food safety standards, processed food marketing, honey processing, and entrepreneurship development.
Participants were informed that under the PMFME scheme, entrepreneurs can receive subsidies of up to 35 percent, subject to a maximum of ₹1 lakh, for establishing micro food-processing units. Under the Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industry Policy 2023, eligible food processing industries can avail subsidies of up to 35 percent, with financial assistance reaching as high as ₹5 crore.
Uttar Pradesh Mangoes Reaching Global Markets
Addressing the gathering, Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh said that the state government is continuously promoting innovation and modern technology to increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen the global identity of Uttar Pradesh mangoes.
He noted that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance farmers’ incomes is being implemented through technology adoption, export promotion, value addition, and market expansion.
According to the minister, mangoes from Uttar Pradesh are currently being exported to more than 30 countries. He expressed confidence that the development of the Noida International Airport at Jewar would significantly reduce export logistics costs and enable direct shipment of fresh mangoes to international markets through dedicated cargo services.
Collaborative Effort Across Departments
The festival was organized through the coordinated efforts of the Horticulture Department, Food Processing Department, Mandi Parishad, Tourism and Culture Department, Lucknow Development Authority, National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, and the district administration.
The event brought together mango growers, farmer cooperatives, self-help groups, exporters, food processors, nursery owners, financial institutions, logistics providers, researchers, scientists, and equipment manufacturers. Institutions from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and other states also participated.
Research and demonstration exhibits were presented by the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rahmankhera; Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology; horticultural research and training centres located in Saharanpur, Basti, Baruasagar (Jhansi), and Malihabad; as well as progressive orchard owners from across the region.
Festival Celebrates Uttar Pradesh’s Mango Legacy
Director of Horticulture Bhanu Prakash Ram delivered the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to all participating farmers, institutions, exhibitors, and visitors who contributed to the festival’s success.
Among those present at the closing ceremony were MLAs Prabhat Verma and Pooja Pal, MLC Pawan Singh Chauhan, Additional Chief Secretary B.L. Meena, Special Secretary Raj Kamal Yadav, Financial Controller Sanjay Kumar Singh, and several senior officials.
The festival had been inaugurated on July 3 by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and Minister of State for Agriculture Baldev Singh Aulakh.
With record participation, a remarkable display of biodiversity, and a strong focus on exports, value addition, and farmer prosperity, Uttar Pradesh Mango Festival 2026 once again reaffirmed the state’s position as India’s leading mango-producing region and a growing force in the global fruit market.
