With a good harvest expected this season, the country’s mango exports is expected to cross 50,000 tonne. Last season, India exported some 40,000 tonne.
Mango exports to US have taken off in a big way with more than 1,000 tonne expected to be exported this year, senior officials of the Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) said. Last year, India had exported some 635 tonne to the US. Europe accounts for a large portion of mango imports from India and volume of 5,500 tonne is expected to be sold in these markets.Inspectors from various countries are expected to arrive from Monday to check at the facilities established by the Board for irradiation, hot water treatment and vapour treatment and exports are expected to take off soon, he said. Meetings have also been held with the officials of Plant Quarantine Department to ensure there are no glitches.
Around 44 export facilitation units have been established across the country for exports. This season, South Korean and Malaysian markets are among the new markets tapped by mango growers. For Malaysia, irradiation is required while Japan, South Korea and Mauritius seek mangoes that have gone through vapour heat treatment. Nearly 800 tonne are expected to be exported to Malaysia.
Maharashtra is the largest mango exporting state in the country and accounts for over 80% of the total exports. For Europe, the produce has to go through hot-water treatment. For South Korea, pest risk analysis is mandatory. Mauritius has already granted market access to Indian mangoes subject to phytosanitary certification. The Board has established facilities for irradiation, hot water treatment, vapour heat treatment for export to various markets. In Maharashtra, Alphanso, better known as Hapus , starts arriving in the markets of Mumbai and Pune by the end of February. Arrivals pick up by mid-March and the season usually ends by May.
Europe has been one of the most important markets for the country and some 5,000 tonne were exported to the European market last season. Switzerland has also lifted the ban on Indian mangoes. New markets have also opened up in Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, besides South Korea, North Korea and Australia. Apeda has already issued advisories for registration of mango orchards under Mangonet. The US, China, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius are seeking a list of registered orchards maintained by Apeda. In Maharashtra, some 8,500 farmers were registered on MangoNet last season — a traceability system established by Apeda that has made it mandatory for exporters to pick mangoes for exports only from growers registered on MangoNet.
Last year, the Indian mangoes were exported to Australia and Japan in addition to traditional markets. Exports had touched 49,180.46 tonne, a dip of 13.82% from the export figures of 2016-17. Unseasonal rain had caused havoc during the crucial flowering stage, which had reduced the crop by almost 25-30%.
This season, flowering has occurred three times which means that a good crop can be expected, Ajit Gogate, president, Devgad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit, said. In Devgad alone, the harvest is about 40,000 tonne, he said. The mango breed of Alphonso, majorly produced in southern Maharashtra’s Konkan region, has won the Geographical Indication tag. With this, Alphonso from Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra, can now claim the place of origin of this mango type.
Source: financialexpress.com