Saving the King of Fruits: How a Gonda Farmer Is Reviving Rare Mangoes Like Yakuti, Zardalu and Anwar Ratol

In Mankapur, Gonda, progressive farmer Praveen Singh is preserving fast-disappearing rare mango varieties — Yakuti, Zardalu and Anwar Ratol — and now plans to graft them and hand out free saplings to fellow farmers.

The mango isn't called the king of fruits for nothing. Uttar Pradesh grows many celebrated varieties, but as newer types keep flooding the market, several old and rare mangoes are quietly slipping into oblivion. In the Mankapur area of Gonda district, one farmer has decided to push back against that loss. Praveen Singh, a progressive farmer, has planted trees of vanishing varieties such as Yakuti, Zardalu and Anwar Ratol in his orchard — and today that orchard has become a talking point far beyond his village.

Speaking to TrendKia, Praveen Singh explained that as fresh mango varieties arrived in the market, many older ones were steadily edged out, with some pushed to the brink of extinction. Determined to protect their distinct identity and flavour, he began planting saplings of these rare species. After years of patient effort, those trees have finally started to bear fruit.

Every Variety Has Its Own Story
According to Praveen Singh, Yakuti — shaped much like a lychee — is a variety from Barabanki. Prized for its unique sweetness and fragrance, it is now found in only a handful of places. Zardalu, the second variety, hails from the Bhagalpur district of Bihar and is loved for its distinctive taste and soft pulp. The third, Anwar Ratol, comes from Ratol in Baghpat and counts among the most famous and delicious mango varieties in the country. Small though it may be in size, its sweetness and aroma win people over instantly.

Farmers Arriving From Other Districts
It isn't only people from nearby villages who come to see this orchard — farmers from other districts are turning up too. Visitors gather information about these rare varieties and even learn the techniques of planting them. Praveen Singh believes that if these old species are not conserved in time, coming generations will be left entirely unaware of their taste and qualities.

Easy to Maintain, Rewarding to Grow
Interestingly, these rare varieties actually need less care than ordinary ones. Timely irrigation, manure and protection against disease remain essential, and when given that much attention, the trees yield good-quality fruit. In Praveen Singh's view, they can also become a solid source of income for farmers.

Free Saplings Now in the Pipeline
Praveen Singh's initiative is not just about rescuing rare mangoes — it is fast becoming an inspiration for other farmers as well. By preserving varieties like Yakuti, Zardalu and Anwar Ratol, he is giving the old mango heritage a fresh identity, which is exactly why his orchard is the talk of the region today. He added that this time he plans to prepare grafts of these mangoes; saplings will be raised from those grafts and then distributed free of cost to farmers, so that these rare species stay alive among the people.

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