52-YO Farmer Dedicates 15 Years to Revive Almost-Extinct Mango From 1 Tree

Originally reported and written in August 2021, this story has been republished as part of our archival content. Ever since word spread that Shamkant Thange has successfully revived a once-popular mango variety in his two-acre orchard in Tikhol village in Ahmednagar Maharashtra, he has been receiving a stream of visitors including farmers from far off Sindhudurg. Swamped by hundreds of orders for the saplings of mango, locally known as ‘Tikhliya’, the 52-year-old assures prospective buyers saying, “I will be able to offer it by early next year.” A small village with 2,000 plus inhabitants, ...