The interviews and reporting for this story had been performed in Could 2025.
Ever heard of Sonpari – a mango selection from Gujarat that could be a royal union of Alphonso and Baneshan? Whereas it’s a mango that’s made by the union of the queen of mangoes (Alphonso) and the pleasure of South (Baneshan), surprisingly, only some exterior the state have encountered Sonpari.
But, Sonpari’s story will not be certainly one of mere native fame. Its legend has sailed throughout oceans.
The vigorous and plush bushes bear their bounty repeatedly, which has made Sonpari a shade higher than different varieties.
Dr. CK Timbadia, vice chancellor of Gujarat Pure Farming College, remembers how the diaspora in California clamours for its style, with orders for 1,200 kg from Gujaratis settled removed from house.
It was Dr. Timbadia who, in 2017, first summoned the media to witness Sonpari.
Tracing Sonpari’s roots
However what’s the story behind this golden hybrid? To know the way it got here to be, we have to return just a few a long time. The roots of this golden marvel hint again to the Agriculture Experimental Station (AES) at Paria, now underneath Navsari Agricultural College. Right here, Dr Rajnikant I Bhatt, a visionary horticulturist, meticulously evaluated and launched Sonpari — christened Gujarat Mango Hybrid-1 (GMH-1) — for industrial cultivation in 2000.
The vigorous and plush bushes bear their bounty repeatedly, which has made Sonpari a shade higher than different varieties. Their fruits – oval and weighing as much as 550 grams – ripen to a radiant golden yellow, and their clean pores and skin is adorned with distinctive brown lenticels.
However Sonpari’s attract is greater than pores and skin deep. Its flesh is agency, fibreless, and bursting with a mix of sugars and acids that evoke the legendary Alphonso, but with its character.
Alphonso versus Sonpari
“Alphonso is plagued with major problems which the horticulturists have been unable to address — the white spongy tissues in the fruit, its extreme sensitivity to vagaries of weather, and bearing fruit in alternate years. However, Sonpari overcomes all these problems and yet looks and tastes like Alphonso,” says Bhaktesh Thakar, a 59-year-old farmer who has 4,500 Sonparis thriving on his farm in Fansa village of Umargam taluka, 45 km from Valsad.
Sonpari’s agency, fibreless flesh gives a sweet-tangy style, like Alphonso however with its personal twist.
Past its Alphonso-like attraction, Sonpari additionally boasts spectacular resilience. Free from the spongy tissue dysfunction and proof against pests and illnesses, it stands as a testomony to each nature’s artistry and scientific ingenuity.
Its holding high quality is phenomenal — fruits stay contemporary for over ten days at room temperature, making it a darling of exporters and native markets alike.
Within the coronary heart of Gujarat, Sonpari isn’t just a fruit — it’s a phenomenon.
Farmers, who had been battered by erratic climate and people trying for income, are turning to this golden hybrid in droves. Sonpari has grow to be the popular selection in South Gujarat, significantly in and across the districts of Navsari, Valsad, Junagadh, and Gir-Somnath, scoring over Kesar and Malgova.
As phrase unfold past Gujarat’s borders, a quiet transformation started unfolding throughout state traces. Sonpari has slowly made its manner into Maharashtra, primarily via the efforts of particular person fanatics and choose nurseries. It’s nonetheless uncommon within the area and never extensively out there in markets.
Its holding high quality is phenomenal — fruits stay contemporary for over ten days at room temperature, making it a darling of exporters and native markets alike.
In Maharashtra, some growers, corresponding to Janardan Waghere in Nashik, have adopted the variability and reported glorious outcomes, with increased preliminary yields in comparison with Alphonso. In 2025, being the third yr, Sonpari has given a 20 kg per tree yield, versus Alphonso’s, which has given a 5 kg yield per tree.
Curiously, regardless of rising demand, Sonpari’s cultivation stays largely confined to Gujarat — as a result of state-run Agriculture Analysis Stations prohibit sapling gross sales to Gujarat-based farmers through on-line registration for the advantage of state farmers.
“In 2024, we distributed 5,000 plants and plan to give 8,000 plants this year,” says Dr Chirag Patel, affiliate analysis scientist (Horticulture) at Pariya Analysis Centre. “The demand is much more than we can meet, and this is met by private nurseries,” he provides.
Curiously, regardless of rising demand, Sonpari’s cultivation stays largely confined to Gujarat.
Among the many non-public gamers serving to bridge the hole is Sumeet Samsudin Jhariya, who has acquired the IARI Progressive Farmer award. He operates ‘Anil Mango Farms and Nursery’, a 12-acre enterprise positioned in Bhalchel village, Junagadh, close to Gir Nationwide Park.
The 32-year-old biotechnology post-graduate states, “I maintain 600 Sonpari mother plants and, over the past two years, have sold 15,000 saplings, with prices ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per plant depending on the size and order quantity.”
Will Sonpari substitute Kesar?
Farmers and consultants consider Sonpari will substitute a good portion of Kesar orchards inside 5 years as a result of its export potential and shopper attraction.
The fruits mature within the second week of June and last more than Kesar and Alphonso, as even after 14 days, it doesn’t rot.
The bushes are free from mango malformation, shoot borer, and mealybug. The fruit’s pores and skin is skinny and therefore most well-liked by the fruit fly to put eggs, which growers maintain by putting in pheromone traps.
The fruits mature within the second week of June and last more than Kesar and Alphonso, as even after 14 days, it doesn’t rot.
In line with Jigar Desai, who planted 1,000 Sonparis and adopted it up with one other 3,000, unfold on three hectares on his farm in Valod, Surat, Sonpari is extra resilient to storms and powerful winds.
“During Cyclone Tauktae in May 2021, which flattened hubs of kesar mango production, especially in Saurashtra and South Gujarat, many mangoes that were ready for harvest were destroyed. However, this was not the case with Sonpari orchards,” he explains.
Farmers who had been hesitant to plant Sonpari mango bushes have rushed to nurseries to acquire seedlings since Cyclone Tauktae hit, spending as much as Rs 600 for a sapling that was a year-and-a-half-old.
A 69-year-old Pramodbhai from the village of Abrama in Jalalpat taluka within the Navsari offered a 20kg field for Rs 5,000, demonstrating that individuals who planted Sonparis within the early years are receiving rewards.
Edited by Vidya Gowri Venkatesh
