Lucknow: Just a short distance from the famed mother tree of the Dussehri mango in Kakori, mango entrepreneur and enthusiast SC Shukla continues to expand his passion project — an ever-growing collection of rare mango varieties from across India and the world.Spread across 13 bighas, his new orchard, planted barely two years ago, has begun bearing fruit. For Shukla, who has spent four decades cultivating mangoes, every fruit remains a source of pride. “Despite growing mangoes for years, each fruit still gives me a sense of achievement,” he said.The new orchard has been developed in a block plantation format and showcases several unusual varieties. Among his favourites are Gajraj, Ivory, Yograj and Vashishth.Shukla practises completely organic farming and is known for introducing exotic mango varieties to Lucknow. His orchards are home to international cultivars such as Miyazaki (Japan), Sensation (South Africa), Osteen (Florida), Kent and Red Ivory (US), and Thai Banana Mango, among others.His collection also includes celebrated Indian varieties from different states, including Zardalu, Shukl and Malda (Bihar), Kesar (Gujarat), Banganapalli, Badam and Suvarnarekha (Andhra Pradesh), Noor Jehan (Madhya Pradesh), Himsagar (West Bengal) and Alphonso (Maharashtra).“I keep experimenting in my orchards and learn something new every time. Nature never stops surprising you,” he said.Asked to share the most important lesson from his decades-long experience, Shukla’s advice is simple: “Timely pruning and proper cutting of trees.”According to him, the success of such a wide range of varieties in Lucknow’s climate owes much to the unique ecosystem he has created. Alongside mangoes, he grows other fruits such as banana, jamun and dragon fruit, besides vegetables, spices, beverage crops and flowering plants, helping maintain biodiversity and orchard health.
