Latest news with #SaeedAlMaeli
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
UAE farmer showcases unique 4kg homegrown organic mango variety at Khorfakkan Festival
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel UAE farmer Saeed Al Maeli took everyone by surprise at the Mango Festival in Khorfakkan after he showed mangoes weighing nearly four kilogrammes, which he grew on his farms in Fujairah. The mangoes left even the seasoned cultivators baffled. However, they do not taste as sweet as the ones found in fruit four-kilogramme fruit is called Malda mango . It is slightly tangy and works well for pickles and curries, according to Khaleej Times. He sold these mangoes for Dh25 and says people come looking for them every about the Malda mangoes, Saeed called them 'unique' and said that this variety came out after years of careful hybrid cultivation, mixing cuttings and seeds from different trees. 'Not everything succeeds. But when it works, the result is something unique. This nearly 4 kg mango is one of those outcomes,' he said, according to Khaleej further asserted that the fruit does not catch the attention of the buyers for its sweetness but for its size and look. The other factor that he highlighted was how well it works in traditional dishes. 'It's not something you find in regular markets,' he said. He also stated that families buy it to make chutneys, pickles, or mango curry, and some people even come just to see his farms in Fujairah, Saeed grows over 35 varieties of mangoes, and he has hundreds of trees spread across his land. Saeed, who says that he started farming out of interest, also grows tomatoes, papayas, figs, dragon fruit, and other seasonal fruits. His ability to grow mangoes through most of the year makes him stand out from the crowd, as this is something many people don't expect to hear about farms in the near his stall at the festival, where he displayed the heavy Malda mango, Saeed said that people stop and ask, Is this real?.At festivals like the Khorfakkan Mango Festival , many farmers like Saeed get access to local residents, tourists, and restaurant owners looking for organic produce, which allows them to sell directly and build a connection with the buyers. 'They ask questions; they want to know how it's grown, whether it's organic, what we use – it builds trust,' he agree that the interest in UAE-grown mangoes is increasing. And as more people try these home-grown fruits, it's giving local farmers a platform to grow and experiment. In Saeed's case it's quite simple. 'Mango farming is not just about selling fruit,' he said. 'It's about making something with your own hands, something that grows from the land you live on.'
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
'Is this real?' UAE farmer grows massive, organic 4kg mangoes
In the farms of Fujairah, Emirati farmer Saeed Al Maeli has been quietly working on something that has left everyone at Mango Festival in Khorfakkan surprised. Even seasoned cultivators are baffled. He has grown mangoes that weigh nearly 4 kilogrammes. But they're not sweet like the ones found in fruit baskets. Instead, this large fruit, named Malda mango, is slightly tangy and works well for pickles and curries. He sells it for Dh25 and says people come looking for it every year. Saeed grows over 35 varieties of mangoes on his farm. He has hundreds of trees spread across his land. The farm also grows tomatoes, papayas, figs, dragon fruit, and other seasonal fruits. What sets him apart is his ability to grow mangoes through most of the year, something many don't expect to hear about farms in the UAE. 'I started this out of interest, and over time it became a full-time work,' said Saeed, standing near his stall at the festival, where he displayed the heavy Malda mango. 'People stop and ask, 'Is this real?' But it's grown right on our land.' Saeed said the Malda variety came out of years of careful hybrid cultivation, mixing cuttings and seeds from different trees. 'Not everything succeeds,' he said. 'But when it works, the result is something unique. This nearly 4kg mango is one of those outcomes.' The fruit doesn't attract people for its sweetness but for its size, look, and how well it works in traditional dishes. Families buy it to make chutneys, pickles, or mango curry. Some even come just to see it. 'It's not something you find in regular markets,' he said. At the festival, his stall was busy. The crowd included local residents, tourists, and even a few restaurant owners looking for organic produce. Saeed said participating in such events helps him sell directly and build a connection with the buyers. 'They ask questions, they want to know how it's grown, whether it's organic, what we use, it builds trust,' he said. Saeed sells his mangoes at the farm, through a small shop in Fujairah, and during seasonal events like this one. His prices start at Dh15, and some of the most requested mangoes on his farm are Naumi, R2E2, and Kolfi. These are known for their balanced flavour and texture. 'We don't use chemicals,' he added. 'It's all organic. That takes more effort. But I believe it's worth it.' On the farm, Saeed manages both the technical side of things, irrigation, plant care — and the day-to-day sales. He says growing mangoes in the UAE's desert climate has taught him a lot about the land and water. 'You learn to listen to the trees. They show you what they need,' he said. His farming journey hasn't gone unnoticed. Other growers visit him to learn from his methods. 'I'm not doing anything special,' he said. 'I am just trying things out, seeing what grows better here.' Husam Al Meheri, another farmer who took part in the Khorfakkan festival, also grows the Malda variety. His version of the mango is sweeter and slightly smaller than Saeed's. 'One mango is about 3 kilogrammes,' said Husam. 'It's so big that even a family of four finds it hard to finish in one sitting.' Husam has also been farming mangoes for a few years now and said he's learning how different soil and techniques affect the taste. 'Saeed has been doing this longer, and it's good to see what's possible when you focus on quality,' he said. Farmers agree that the interest in UAE-grown mangoes is increasing. And as more people try these home-grown fruits, it's giving local farmers a platform to grow and experiment. For Saeed, it's simple. 'Mango farming is not just about selling fruit,' he said. 'It's about making something with your own hands, something that grows from the land you live on.'
