India: Lack of Irradiation Facilities Holding Up Andhra's Mango Exports to US.

I want my fellow Americans to eat these mangoes," former US president George Bush had said on his visit to the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University in Hyderabad in 2006. Banginapally, the mango variety from Andhra Pradesh, impressed Bush for sure but nearly five years after the US lifting the 18-year ban on export of Indian mangoes, his fellow Americans are yet to taste the fruit. Andhra Pradesh, the largest producer of mangoes in the country, has not been able to send fresh fruit to the US as the state does not have an irradiation facility.

"Andhra Pradesh accounts for about 4-6% of total Indian exports . We mainly export to the Middle-East and Singapore. We cannot export to the US as the only irradiation facility in the country is in Trombay in Maharashtra, which is under the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre," says Suresh Koneru, president, Andhra Pradesh Mango Growers Association. As a result, only the Alphonso and Kesar varieties are exported to the US, which are produced mainly in Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat.

Uttar Pradesh, the second largest producer with an annual production of about 30 lakh tonne, is also not able to tap the US market. So, the fate of Dussehra from UP which has been registered for a geographical indicator status is no different from Banginapalli. An irradiation facility will require an investment of about Rs 15-18 crore.

Source : freshplaza.com