Mysore:  The Department of Horticulture is organising the annual Mango and Jackfruit Mela from May 24 to 28 at Curzon Park premises in city.

Last year, the Mela was held from June 1 and 5 where 70 to 80 tonnes of Mango and 4 to 5 tonnes of Jackfruit were sold and  over 10,000 people had visited the Mela, according to Horticulture Department sources.

Owing to low yield of mango this year, it is feared that mango prices would be higher this time at the Mela and the process of fixing the prices is underway and it is to be waited to learn about the hiked prices. Only mangoes ripened through natural process or with environment-friendly ethylene would be up for sale at the Mela keeping out the fruits ripened artificially using the harmful  calcium carbide.

Last year, the Mela housed 36 stalls selling mangoes and jackfruit from a wide range of variety.

Meeting: The Horticulture Department had organised a meeting of mango growers, traders and officials of other Department yesterday at its office premises in Curzon Park.

The participants were briefed on the natural ripening process of mangoes. Opinions and suggestions were collected regarding holding of the Mango and Jackfruit Mela and it was decided to organise the event from May 24 to 28.

Speaking on the occasion, Senior Assistant Horticulture Director (State Zone) Habeeba Sadh said that the proposed Mela will have 25 stalls — 23 for mangoes and two for jackfruit — and added that the number of stalls has come down from 36 last year to 25 now owing to low yield of mangoes.