How far would you go for the love of mangoes? For the ‘king of fruits’, mangoes, Nepalis are crossing borders to work in Maharashtra’s mango farms during the mango season. This cross-border mango love seems like an interesting and delicious connection between India and Nepal.
Nepalis Travel To India To Work On Mango Farms
According to a report by WION, Nepalis are flocking to Maharashtra’s famous Ratnagiri mango farms to work as labourers. The official data states that over 50,000 Nepalis crossed borders and travelled all the way to Maharashtra to work on mango farms in 2018. This number has only grown over the years. The Konkan region itself witnesses an influx of mango labourers from Nepal every year.
What amounted to 50,000 Nepalis in 2018 has now reached 1,50,000 in 2023. Nepalis cross borders and start work in Ratnagiri mango farms in October. They first start pruning branches and then add fertilisers before the harvest season. They go on to stay in India on mango farms till the end of May or early June. During this time they pick mangoes, help sort them out and then pack them in boxes for export or sale.
Also Read: Mango Butter Chicken, Anyone? Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Has Got You Covered!
Working Since Generations
As per a TOI report, a Nepali, Vishal Shahi who is now as much Maharashtrian, has been religiously visiting India every October to tend to mango farms. He revealed to TOI that his parents and uncle work in Maharashtra’s mango farms for decades as they don’t have any work during this period back in their hometown. While no one knows when the first batch of Nepalis entered India to work on mango farms, their tribe continues to increase just as the work on the farms.
Also Read: World’s Most Expensive Mangoes Costs ₹19,000 Each. Here’s How The Japanese Man Grows Them
A WION report, reveals that the total cost of maintaining two farm keepers is ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh for a period of 6 months. Pradeep Sawant, the owner of 15 mango farms in Ratnagiri said to WION that Nepalis live and work on the farms. He said they are very trustworthy.
Well, this is the love for mangoes that has made Nepalis cross borders to work on Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri mango farms.