This story is of Shree Kishan Suman, a farmer from a village near Kota who initially worked with wheat and rice farming and then grew a rose plant that bloomed in seven colors. Later, he moved to experiment with mango grafting. He worked for more than a decade refining an unusual mango tree that flowers across multiple seasons and has now developed a new variety called 'Sadabahar,' which can bear fruit up to three times a year.
This rare variety of mango is said to have an Alphonso-like taste, is low in fiber and has impressed even researchers. It is reported that the saplings of this mango variety are slowly reaching Rashtrapati Bhavan as well. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) even Anand Mahindra was surprised to know about this mango and wrote, "It this variety proves scalable, it open up real possibilities: for farmers' incomes, for supply chains and even for how we experience something as as seasonal and sacred as the mango.
In his post he mentioned, "It’s a general principle that as economies grow, agriculture must shrink in importance. But perhaps what declines is not agriculture itself… only our imagination of it."
He further added, "What strikes me is not just the outcome, but the method. This is true entrepreneurship: resilience in the face of uncertainty, a science-based approach, and the patience to let nature reveal its secrets. We most often look for startups in our engineering campuses. We should be looking just as closely at our farms."
The most encouraging part of his post was his concluding line where he mentioned,"And if he ever chooses to scale his venture, I’d be more than willing to back him."
While Suman's experimentation and resilience to bring more to the world is an example of hard work and patience, Anand Mahindra's applause and support towards the farmer community truly reflects what leadership should ideally navigate and help others grow.
For the unversed, the word 'mango' comes from the Portuguese 'manga', which is probably derived from the Malayalam manga. It is believed that the Portuguese introduced vegetative propagation methods in India during the 15th century when they established trading outposts along the western coast of India.
The Sadabahar mango is a unique, "evergreen" variety developed by Shree Kishan Suman, a 59-year-old farmer from Girdharpura, near Kota, Rajasthan.
What makes Sadabahar Mango unique?
Unlike traditional mangoes that are strictly seasonal, the Sadabahar variety is a round-the-year fruiting tree.
Triple Harvest: It typically flowers and bears fruit three times a year (January-February, June-July, and September-October).
Dwarf Nature: The tree remains relatively small, making it ideal for high-density orcharding, kitchen gardens, and even large pots.
High Quality: The fruit has a deep orange flesh, a sweet flavor comparable to the Alphonso or Langra, and very low fiber content.
Resilience: It is highly resistant to major diseases and common mango disorders.
Official Recognition: The variety has been validated by the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) and saplings have even been planted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's House) in New Delhi.
Why is Anand Mahindra supporting it?
Anand Mahindra recently highlighted Suman’s story on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his admiration for the farmer's persistence and scientific approach.
"True Entrepreneurship": Mahindra noted that Suman didn't just stumble upon this; he spent over 15 years refining the variety through grafting and observation after dropping out of school in the second grade due to poverty.
Scaling Potential: Mahindra emphasized that if this variety can be scaled, it could revolutionize farmers' incomes by removing the "off-season" barrier, providing a steady revenue stream throughout the year.
Agricultural Innovation: He used the story to point out that high-impact "startups" aren't just found on engineering campuses but also in the fields of rural India.
Direct Offer: Mahindra stated that if Suman chooses to scale his venture, he would be "more than willing to back him," signaling potential investment or mentorship from the Mahindra Group to help bring this variety to a global market.
Would you like me to find information on where you can purchase Sadabahar saplings or how to grow them in your own garden?
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