The story
Malda's alluvial soil between the Ganga and Mahananda has carried mango orchards for centuries, and the district is called Bengal's mango capital. Three Malda varieties hold GI tags, and traders send fruit across India and abroad during the season. A growing share is now processed into pulp, juices, jams and pickles to beat the short season and price crashes.
In numbers
Malda district produces over 200 varieties of mango and around 3.5 lakh metric tonnes of mangoes annually.
From Terracotta to Textiles: GST Reforms to Empower Bengal's Industries (PIB factsheet) · 2025About 4.5 lakh people, including about 80,000 growers, are directly and indirectly associated with Malda's mango industry; mango exports from Malda reached over ₹80 crore in 2023.
From Terracotta to Textiles: GST Reforms to Empower Bengal's Industries (PIB factsheet) · 2025
GI tag
- Malda Laxman Bhog MangoApplication no. Application No. 111Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
- Malda Khirsapati (Himsagar) MangoApplication no. Application No. 112Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
- Malda Fazli MangoApplication no. Application No. 113Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
Ways in for a newcomer
- Mango pulp and aam papad units to use surplus fruit
- Cold storage and ripening chambers
- Packing and air/rail logistics for fresh fruit to metro cities
- GI-branded direct-to-consumer mango boxes
Problems the cluster faces
- Short harvest window and price crashes in glut years
- Pest damage and weather losses
- Few modern processing and cold-chain units
Businesses to start here
Mango Pulp Processing →Aam Papad (Mango Jelly) →Multi-Fruit Juice and Squash Unit →Fruit and Vegetable Canning Unit (Mango Pulp, Curried Vegetables) →Mango Kernel Oil (Mango Butter) →Cold Room (2 × 10 MT) for Fruit and Vegetables →