Maharashtra Minister for Marketing Jayakumar Rawal affirmed the government’s dedication to empowering farmers and the rural economy. He announced plans to extend the ‘Mango Festival-2026’ to Mumbai and New Delhi to enhance market access for farmers. The festival, organized by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) in collaboration with the Pune Zilla Parishad, aims to strengthen direct-to-consumer sales and foster farmer-consumer relationships.
Minister Rawal highlighted the festival’s growth over 25 years, featuring GI-tagged Alphonsos and other mango varieties. The event, hosting 60 stalls with plans to expand to 150, promotes authentic produce and eliminates middlemen. The government’s modernization efforts include assigning QR Codes for fruit identification and ‘Know Your Farmer’ for consumer transparency. Social media marketing has also been introduced to boost festival visibility.
Under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s guidance, the Marketing Board conducts various festivals to support agricultural sectors. The government aims to establish a leading agricultural market in Maharashtra, connected to key transportation networks. Initiatives like Banana Clusters and Onion Processing are in progress to enhance farm produce value. Officials will explore innovative marketing systems in other states to improve Maharashtra’s agricultural practices.
MSAMB Executive Director Sanjay Kadam highlighted the festival’s success, with the previous year’s turnover reaching Rs 225 crore. Future editions will expand to prominent locations like Mantralaya, Maharashtra Sadan, and Maharashtra Mandal in Delhi.
