This Farmer in Uttar Pradesh Grew 350 Mango Varieties on a Single Tree
A different classroom
Kalimullah Khan failed Class 7 and left school, but found his purpose in his family’s mango orchard in Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh. Today, he is known across India as the ‘Mango Man’.
It began with failure
In 1957, he planted a tree that he hoped would grow seven mango varieties. Floods destroyed it, but the experience taught him valuable lessons about soil and water management.
One graft at a time
He refused to give up. Over the years, he kept experimenting with grafting, learning through trial and error until he found techniques that worked in his orchard.
The tree that stuns everyone
A nearly 125-year-old tree in his 22-acre orchard now bears more than 350 mango varieties. Every branch produces fruit with its own flavour, colour, aroma, and texture.
His greatest teachers
“People often call me a self-taught scientist, but in reality, it’s the trees who have been my teachers,” says the Padma Shri awardee, reflecting on his lifelong journey.
A son steps in
When Kalimullah’s health began to decline, his son Nazimullah stepped into the orchard. He left school after Class 12 and now helps carry forward decades of work.
Nothing happens overnight
Developing a hybrid takes years of patience. “Making a single hybrid variety can take up to 10 years,” says Nazimullah. Their ‘Dushehri Kalim’ took 12 years to develop.
Mangoes with stories
The tree grows Alphonso, Kesar, Langra, Dasheri, and Chaunsa, along with hybrids named ‘Sachin Tendulkar’, ‘Amitabh Bachchan’, “Narendra Modi ’, and ‘Aishwarya Rai’.
Every season matters
The family closely watches rainfall, drains excess water, prevents fungal attacks, and cares for every branch, guaranteeing the extraordinary tree continues to survive each season.
Rooted for life
“I have spent my life with these trees, and when my time comes, I wish to be laid to rest beside them,” says Kalimullah, whose life’s work has helped preserve India’s rich mango heritage.
Source: The Better India
