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This ex-municipal commissioner started Grandpa Orchard, now growing 20 varieties of mangoes near Lucknow
In summers, while most orchards grow just one or two varieties on each tree, Lucknow-based Anup Kumar Bajpai has used grafting techniques to grow up to 11 different mango varieties on a single tree. In 2020, while serving as an additional municipal commissioner in major municipal corporations across Uttar Pradesh, Bajpai began this experiment for a personal reason. His father, a mango lover, was suffering from a kidney-related health condition and had been advised to eat only one mango a day. Being a passionate mango lover himself, Anup wanted his father to enjoy a different variety every day despite the restriction. To make that possible, he grafted multiple mango varieties onto 2 mature Dussehri trees at his home. One of the trees was later destroyed by disease, but the other now bears around 11 different varieties of mangoes. Around 2021, Bajpai established Grandpa Orchard, a 2-hectare organic farm in Tikariya village near Lucknow. Today, the orchard has around 450 high-density mango trees and more than 20 mango varieties, including several rare cultivars. "Every time I see a mango tree, I am reminded of my childhood summers in the village. We climbed trees, shared mangoes with cousins, and spent entire days in the orchards. That love never left me, and today it lives on through Grandpa Orchard," Anup Kumar Bajpai tells Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview. About Anup Kumar Bajpai Anup Kumar Bajpai seeing his mango tree at Grandpa Orchard Photograph: (by: Anup Kumar Bajpai) Native to Tikariya village in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli district, 60-year-old Anup Kumar Bajpai spent much of his childhood across different cities due to his father's transferable government job. He completed his MSc in Organic Chemistry from Agra College in 1987 and later pursued a management course at the Institute of Cooperative & Corporate Management, Research & Training (ICCMRT) in Lucknow. Bajpai went on to serve for nearly 32 years in various Municipal Corporations and Development Authorities across Uttar Pradesh before retiring as an additional municipal commissioner on March 31, 2026. His family includes his 92-year-old father, a retired jail superintendent, and his 86-year-old mother. Today, he devotes his time to managing his organic mango farm, Grandpa Orchard, a name lovingly given by his children. How Anup Kumar Bajpai's Love for Mangoes Began? Anup Kumar Bajpai at his Grandpa Orchard farm Photograph: (by: Anup Kumar Bajpai) Anup Kumar Bajpai’s connection with mangoes began during his childhood summers in Tikariya village, Uttar Pradesh. Although he was born in the village, he spent most of his childhood in cities due to his father’s transferable government job. Every summer, however, the family returned to their village, where Anup and his cousins spent their days climbing mango trees, plucking fruits, and enjoying them straight from the orchards. Anup inherited his love for mangoes from his father, Ganga Prasad Bajpai, a retired jail superintendent who served in the prison department and retired in 1994. "My love for mangoes came from my father. He was such a mango enthusiast that he would eat nearly 1 kg of mangoes every day, and he always encouraged us to experience the unique taste of different varieties,” Anup tells Startup Pedia. At the same time, Anup inherited his love for plants and gardening from his mother, Shrimati Shakuntala Bajpai, who is now 86 years old. "My mother taught me the importance of caring for plants. I grew up watching her spend hours tending to them, changing soil, adding manure, and ensuring every plant stayed healthy. Her dedication made me develop a deep connection with nature," he recalled. How Did Anup Create a Tree With 11 Mango Varieties? Freshly cultivated mangoes from Grandpa Orchard Photograph: (by: Anup Kumar Bajpai) Anup’s journey of creating a multi-variety mango tree began after he built his house in Lucknow. Around 2010, he planted two Dussehri mango saplings in his home garden, without any intention of mango farming. Around 2020-21, to provide his father with naturally grown mangoes, Anup decided to experiment with grafting. He began learning the technique through online research, YouTube videos, and conversations with experienced grafters from Malihabad. Anup started learning about grafting through online research, YouTube videos, and guidance from experienced grafters from Malihabad. He then began grafting branches of different mango varieties onto the 2 mature Dussehri trees at his home. Grafting Process Behind the Multi-Variety Mango Tree The grafting process is usually done during July and August, when the weather conditions and moisture levels are favourable for the graft to survive. In this method, a healthy branch or shoot, known as a scion, from a desired mango variety is selected and attached to the branch of the existing Dussehri tree. The selected branch is cut in a V-shape, and the scion is carefully fitted into the cut portion so that both parts connect properly. The grafted portion is then tightly wrapped with plastic tape to prevent water from entering the joint, as excess moisture can lead to fungal infections and damage the graft. Death of One of the Dussehri Trees Mango plants grown at Anup's home Photograph: (by: Anup Kumar Bajpai) Between 2020-21, Anup successfully grafted more than 46 mango varieties onto one of his Dussehri trees. He often referred to it as the crown jewel of his garden because the tree was capable of producing nearly 46 different varieties of mangoes. However, shortly after the mango season ended, the tree was severely affected by a combination of fungal infection and termite infestation. At the time, Anup was posted in Kanpur, which made it difficult for him to monitor the tree every day. By the time the symptoms became visible, it was too late. Meanwhile, his other Dussehri tree survived and became the unique multi-variety mango tree that exists today. The 11 Mango Varieties on a Single Tree A hanging mango at Grandpa Orchard farm Photograph: (by: Anup Kumar Bajpai) The tree now produces around 11 mango varieties from a single trunk, including Ambika, Sensation, Dussehri, Ramkela, Mallika, Khas-ul-Khas, Surkha Verma, Husnara, Amrapali, Neelam, and Kesar. Anup never developed this tree for commercial purposes. Over time, the strong aroma of the mangoes attracted people from nearby areas, who started visiting his home to see the unusual tree and taste its different varieties. From his multi-variety mango tree at home, Anup has recorded a production of around 800 kg to 1 tonne of mangoes in a season from a single tree. This single tree produces around 11 different varieties from one trunk, including Ambika, Sensation, Dussehri, Ramkela, Mallika, Khas-ul-Khas, Surkha Verma, Husnara, Amrapali, Neelam, and Kesar. The production from this tree is enough to serve around 30-40 families. Since he had no intention of selling the fruit, Anup shared the mangoes with visitors as a gift. Challenges Faced Initially, Anup faced several failures during the process. Some grafts survived, while others failed to develop. However, through continuous observation and repeated attempts, he gradually understood the requirements of the tree and improved his grafting success rate. Once a graft successfully establishes itself, new shoots begin emerging from that branch. Over time, these branches grow and start producing fruits of the grafted variety, allowing multiple mango varieties to grow on a single tree. Through this process, Anup successfully transformed one of his Dussehri trees into a multi-variety mango tree that now produces around 11 different mango varieties from a single trunk. Expansion to Grandpa Orchard Ready to go freshly harvested mangoes Photograph: (Ready to go freshly harvested mangoes) In 2021-22, after the success of his multi-variety mango tree at home, Anup decided to take his passion for mango cultivation to his ancestral land in Tikariya village, Uttar Pradesh. The idea of establishing a larger orchard came from the success of his home experiment and his family's long-standing connection with the village. Anup’s family owned ancestral agricultural land in Tikariya, but for several years, the land remained largely neglected. It was cultivated by local farmers under a crop-sharing arrangement, which gradually affected the fertility and overall health of the soil. Seeing how well the multi-variety mango tree had developed at his home, Anup and his family decided to transform the ancestral land into a dedicated mango orchard. They named the venture "Grandpa Orchard", a name suggested by his children in honour of their grandfather, Ganga Prasad Bajpai, whose love for mangoes had inspired Anup’s journey. Preparation of Farm Land For years, the land had remained largely neglected and was cultivated by local farmers under a crop-sharing arrangement, which gradually affected the soil fertility. To make the land suitable for mango cultivation, Anup first worked on restoring the soil health. He adopted organic farming practices and avoided the use of chemical fertilisers. He relied on natural inputs such as well-decomposed cow dung compost and vermicompost to improve soil quality and provide nutrients to the mango trees. The orchard follows a natural soil enrichment method. During autumn, when mango trees shed their leaves, the fallen leaves are allowed to remain on the ground. With the arrival of monsoon, these leaves naturally decompose and turn into organic matter. Anup later uses a tractor to plough the orchard, mixing the decomposed leaves back into the soil as natural compost. For disease management, Anup prefers natural solutions before using stronger treatments. If fungal issues appear, he uses neem oil as the first line of protection. Planning of Farm Anup follows a high-density plantation approach to maximise land utilisation. Traditionally, mango trees are planted at a wider spacing of around 20 metres, allowing only about 40 trees per acre. However, at Grandpa Orchard, Anup planted trees at a distance of 12-13 feet from each other, with a row-to-row spacing of 13-14 feet. This method allows him to grow around 300-400 mango trees per acre. Since these newer mango varieties have controlled vegetative growth, the trees are maintained at around 10-12 feet in height, making harvesting and management easier. Through this approach, Anup has developed a productive organic mango orchard while maintaining soil health and reducing dependence on external chemical inputs. Also Read: This Bengaluru man built mU Greens & Greens to grow microgreens; now makes ₹70 lakh revenue annually Mango Varieties at Farm The orchard features more than 20 mango varieties, including premium cultivars sourced from the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Malihabad. Some of the major varieties grown at the orchard include: Arunima Arunika Ambika Tommy Atkins Alphonso Gulab Khas Apart from mangoes, Anup has also diversified the farm by planting dragon fruit and guava. Also Read: MP-based Noorjahan mango farm earns Rs 16 lakh per year by selling 10 tonnes of 40 mango varieties Production & Sales at Grandpa Orchard As the mango trees matured, Anup started commercial sales from Grandpa Orchard. Instead of selling through traditional wholesale markets, he adopted a direct-to-consumer model, supplying fresh mangoes directly to customers. The family began packing mangoes in 2 kg boxes priced at around Rs 500, including shipping charges. In the first season of commercial sales, Grandpa Orchard sold more than 250 boxes of mangoes. Also Read: Kerala man turned his 40-YO Merlin Mangosteen Farm into an agri-tourism hotspot; making ₹1.2Cr revenue per year Future Goals Anup aims to expand Grandpa Orchard further by increasing mango cultivation and introducing value-added products such as mango pulp, pickles, and murabba. He also wants to encourage local farmers to adopt high-value crops and modern farming practices by showcasing the success of his organic orchard. Also Read: 2 Delhi friends started Kofi Kafi to sell premium coffee; now operate 5 outlets & clock ₹2.4Cr revenue/year FAQ Q. Who founded Grandpa Orchard? A. Grandpa Orchard was founded by Anup Kumar Bajpai, a former additional municipal commissioner with the Uttar Pradesh municipal administration. He started the orchard to continue his family’s connection with mangoes and nature after successfully experimenting with a multi-variety mango tree at his home in Lucknow. Q. Where is Grandpa Orchard located? A. Grandpa Orchard is located in Tikariya village near Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Anup Kumar Bajpai’s ancestral land. Q. Why did Anup start Grandpa Orchard? A. Anup started Grandpa Orchard after his successful home experiment of growing multiple mango varieties on a single Dussehri tree. The orchard was named by his children in honour of their grandfather, Ganga Prasad Bajpai, whose love for mangoes inspired Anup’s journey. Q. How large is Grandpa Orchard? A. Grandpa Orchard is spread across 2 hectares of land and has around 450 high-density mango trees.
