Summer is here and mango, the ‘King of Fruits’, is all set to have its own museum in Lucknow. To be housed at the Central Mango Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) office at Rehmankhera in the Kakori block, the structure will reportedly be ready by the end of the mango season. Attracting children, agro enthusiasts and farmers alike, this museum will help its visitors learn all about the varieties, medicinal value, products, history and other little-known facts about the fruit.
Mango varieties dominating international markets will be displayed at the museum as well
Dear dussheri-loving Lucknowites, did you know that there some 1500 varieties of mangoes in the world or the fact that more than half of these will be on a display at this special museum in your own city?! That’s right; a new mango museum will find its roots in Lucknow and have around 800 varieties as a model or a photograph with interesting descriptions.
According to the o Shailendra Rajan, CISH Director, “Not only Indian but also the varieties dominating the international market will be displayed at the museum.” The institute has one of the largest live collections of mango varieties but one cannot see them after the fruiting season. India is considered to be the richest in mango varieties and efforts made by farmers, nurserymen and mango lovers have helped in conserving them.
“Mango is the heritage tree of India. It has historical and mythological relevance and enjoys a connect with social, religious and cultural ethos of the country. The museum will also have material on this aspect,” the director said in a statement.
Striking features of the Mango Museum
“A database containing details of the medicinal properties of phytochemicals can be accessed in the museum. A description of important products made from mango and the nutritive value of the king of fruits will also be depicted,” Rajan said. “Mango (tree) is considered to provide certain anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic bioactive compounds and a few of them have been found to be reported effective in immunity-boosting against the coronavirus,” the Director added.
About 80 countries have issued stamps on mangoes and consequently, the upcoming museum will also have a corner showcasing stamps for people interested in philately. The museum will further provide information on the displayed products and their nutritive value along with the details of recipes made from raw or ripe mangoes.
Meanwhile, the CISH will also employ audio-visual means to make sure that all the information is not only interesting to discover but easy to retain. This centre will be developed as a storehouse of information on major mango-producing areas of the country and the world. A portion of the museum will depict the numerous pests and diseases that attack the mango.
