LUCKNOW, May 25 -- Standing under the shade of his mango-laden trees in Malihabad here, Upendra Kumar Singh inspects the green-gold fruits wrapped in neat paper covers. The orchard hums with quiet confidence. "These bags are my 'Kavach' (shield)," he says, gently lifting a mango protected inside a butter paper bag or fruit bag. "Ever since I started using them, I haven't worried about pests or bad weather."

In a year when infestations have plagued mango orchards across Uttar Pradesh, Singh's harvest looks promising. He is among a small group of farmers, less than 1% across the state, who use butter paper bagging to protect their fruits. The practice, though effective, has not gained traction widely, mainly due to cost.

While thousands o...