Mapro Garden, Dervan
About Mapro Garden
History
Mapro set up a fruit processing unit at Gureghar with 12 permanent employees and also involving remaining villagers into farming. Mapro provided the farmers technical guidance and also guaranteed to buy their produce. The region has the highest produce of strawberries in India and constant increase in tourist inflow over time. Tourist recognition led to the development of the Mapro Garden which is the popular identity of Gureghar among tourists now. Gureghar or Mapro Garden is host to the annual Strawberry Festival. Mahabaleshwar contributes to 85% of the total Strawberry produce in India and about 80% is consumed fresh. The Strawberry Festival encourages the strawberry cultivation in the belt. The highlights of this festival are fresh farm picked strawberry lined up on tables for visitors to eat to their fullest as well as traditional folk performances such as Shivkalin Dhol and Lezim, a high energy dance for which dancers are invited from Pratapgarh. Gureghar also boasts of being one of the first villages to have 100% sanitation with every house having their own biogas plant. Statistics reveal 100% employment in the village, with none under poverty line, and 100% literacy with a 0% dropout rate.