Mangoes from Odisha now Bangladesh-bound.

BHUBANESWAR: At a time when the European Union (EU) has banned import of mangoes from India, Odisha has found a new market for the king of fruits in Bangladesh. The first consignment of homegrown Dussehri and Amrapali mangoes was sent to the neighbouring country through train on last Friday.

On the home front, north India has been a destination for mangoes from Odisha for a long time. This season too, the state will export 500 metric tonne mango to Delhi and other places.

Director of horticulture Sanjiv Chadha said, "We sent around three metric tonne mango to Bangladesh for trial. We are exploring the market there and based on the response, we will increase export. Dussehri and Amrapali are very popular in north India. Compared to other mango supplying states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, these varieties ripen early in our state. We aim to capture the north Indian market by reaching there earlier." The state is also exporting the fruit to Utter Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, he added.

Sources said the horticulture department had got orders for mangoes from Finland last year, but could not supply the fruit owing to unavailability of international flights from Bhubaneswar. "This year, we have tied up with companies for marketing of mango in markets across India and outside, which will facilitate export, and ensure more benefit to farmers," said assistant horticulture officer at the state horticulture directorate Susant Dash.

Besides, to facilitate global and domestic trading of mango, the state horticulture department has set up a unit in Dhenkanal with processing and packaging facility, said another senior official, adding the ban imposed by the EU on import of Alphanso mangoes from India will have little impact on business in the state.

Annually, Odisha produces nearly 8 lakh tonne mango, of which 40% are high quality varieties such as Amrapalli, Dussehri, Mallika, Keshari and Lengada, and the rest are local and indigenous varieties. Majority of the fruits are produced in Dhenkanal, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Boudh. The varieties that dominate the Indian market are Baiganpalli, Dussehri, Amrapalli, Kesari Totapuri, Latsundari, Mallika, Subarnarekha, Himasagar, Neelum and Chausa.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com