How a Farmer Near Kota Grew a Mango Tree That Bears Fruit in Every Season
21 June 2025
India’s love for mangoes goes way back — but a unique variety called Sadabahar is rewriting mango history with its incredible ability to fruit three times a year.
Developed by 59-year-old farmer Shree Kishan Suman from Girdharpura near Kota, Sadabahar has the luscious look and taste of an Alphonso — with a twist.
“This tree had a good growth habit and dark green leaves,” says Suman. “It flowered in January-February, June-July and September-October.”
Sadabahar isn't just another mango. It stands out from lookalikes like Baramasi due to its table quality, fibreless texture, size, and flavour.
In 2000, Suman grafted five trees using the rare mango as scion. Over years, he found it resistant to major diseases — and word began to spread.
Sundaram Verma, a Honey Bee Network volunteer, alerted the National Innovation Foundation. And they validated Suman’s work over 11 long years.
15 years of quiet innovation “NIF asked me not to sell or gift saplings during the trial period. I followed their advice,” Suman shares. It took him 15 years to develop Sadabahar.
In 2012, Suman gifted 20 plants to farmer Kamal Hissaria, who confirms: “When the fruit ripens, the skin turns orange, while the insides have a saffron hue.”
Hissaria enjoys this rare mango thrice a year on his two-acre farm. “Unlike others, I don’t have to wait for summer to have mangoes,” he says.
When innovation bears fruit In 2017, Suman received the Farm Innovation Award at Rashtrapati Bhavan. “The fruits are sweeter… and even grow in pots,” says NIF's Hardev Choudhary.
ICAR-CISH in Lucknow is studying the plant. “We have five Sadabahar trees. It’ll take three to four years to study its performance,” says Dr K K Srivastava, Principal Scientist, CISH.
Mango lovers aren’t waiting. Hundreds of saplings have already been sold across India. “I’ve even got enquiries from the UK, Iraq and the USA,” says Suman.