At one lakh tonne, mango exports to overshoot target

KOLKATA: Fresh mango exports are likely to go up to 1 lakh tonne this year against an estimated export of 80,000 tonne last year. The growth in the fruit’s export is expected to be driven by Indian mangoes’ growing acceptance in the world market for its quality, opening up of Japan’s market in recent times and resumption of mango export to the US since the middle of last year, after a gap of 17 years.

The export target is slated to be achieved despite a setback in mango production in the western parts of the country with the early onset of monsoon. Mango export orders, which are coming in from the US, Japan, Bangladesh, the Saarc bloc and West Asia, are to be met from the mango crop from the second round of harvest. This was indicated by RK Mandal, assistant general manger, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda).
Participating in an exhibition on mangoes on Thursday in Kolkata, Mr Mandal said 40% of exports stem from West Bengal. However, not all the mangoes being exported originate from the state. So, mango growers in the state should take more initiatives to export home-grown mangoes, especially after the coming up of several important export-enabling infrastructure in the state, he said.

Mohanta Chatterjee, the state minister of food processing industry and horticulture, has asked mango growers of the state to become more active to drive up mango exports from the state. They should also become more aware about adopting the global standards on good management practices (GAP), pre and post-harvest management and can try their luck in organic farming due to high demand for organic mangoes in the world market, said the minister.

West Bengal is traditionally famous for its ‘Malda’ mango, which is still the predominating export variety from the state. However, of late the ‘Lakhanbhog’ variety is gaining acceptance in the UK market. Exporters are also making an attempt to push it to the US market. The state government on its part has also taken initiatives to set up several export-enabling infrastructure, with financial assistance from the Centre and Apeda. As part of the endeavour, a state-of-the-art pack house has been set up at Malda and another is under construction at Barasat.

The perishable cargo centre, built at an investment of Rs 6 crore at the Netaji Subhas International airport in Kolkata, has also become operational.