Dhanbad: Deputy commissioner Aditya Ranjan on Sunday organised a mango festival for the first time in the district to “directly link farmers of organically grown mangoes with consumers”. A major attraction at the festival, held under the aegis of the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), was the Miyazaki mangoes, whose market price is reportedly between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh per kilogram.DC said, “The primary objective of the event is to connect consumers directly with farmers and ensure that organically ripened mangoes reach households without middlemen. The initiative also aims to provide local mango growers and women-led self-help groups with better market opportunities and wider recognition for their products.“Farmers cultivating mango orchards on five acres of land under the MGNREGA scheme would be provided water sources through DMFT funds. Markets in Baliapur, Nirsa, and other areas would be upgraded into model marketplaces with improved infrastructure and facilities, he added.Farmer Ravi Kumar Nishad said, “Miyazaki mangoes are valued for their medicinal properties and used in pharmaceutical products, including children’s medicines.“Senior SP Prabhat Kumar also attended the inaugural ceremony.