NEW DELHI: As the mango season is coming to an end, mango exports have stopped from Maharashtra and Gujarat, but a few tonnes are being exported from Uttar Pradesh. Government statistics reveals that some 9,000 tonne of mango have been exported from Maharashtra to Europe this season as against 7,000 tonne the previous year.
Since Europe lifted the ban on Indian mangoes, the produce has gone through hot-water treatment and has been sent to the EU, senior officials with the state horticulture department said.
The officials estimated the total mango exports from the country to touch some 45,000 tonne and said collating data would take time. Some 329 tonne of mango has been sent to the USA from the irradiation facility located at Nashik, while a nominal 3 tonne of mango has found its way to the Japanese markets.
The decision to export to Japan was taken late with the Japanese inspector coming to India in June. The Japanese officials are now at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh where the last few tonnes of mango are being exported, officials said.
Statistics available with Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) reveal that mango export from Maharashra touched 32,962 tonne for the year ended March 2015 and was valued at R256 crore, while the country’s export for the same period touched 42,998 tonne, valued at R302.66 crore.
Mango pulp export from Maharashtra touched 20,814 tonnes valued at R170 crore for the period ended March 2015, while nationally mango pulp export touched 1,54,820 tonne valued at R841 crore.
The All-India Mango Growers Association (AIMGA) says that both Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have had bad seasons due to rains with just about 10 tonne being exported, while Maharashtra has had a better season till date. Unseasonal rain and hail during the flowering season are estimated to have damaged the crop by 30-40%, especially in the north. Intermittent storm in the first week of March spoiled the flowers and emerging buds.
“Lower availability will have a cascading effect on exports, with 25-30% lower shipment this year,” said Insaram Ali, president, AIMGA, said.
The production of mangoes in Maharashtra was initially low. According to earlier estimates of Apeda, mango exports could be hit to the tune of 30-40% because of rains.
Last year, mango exports touched 41,280 tonne. This year, there have been several restrictions from other countries in addition to the vagaries of the weather, officials said. Besides the Alphonso, the Kesar and other mango varieties from Karnataka and Banganapalli from Andhra Pradesh are also finding export markets. The export season should continue till the end of June, officials said.
Besides Europe, other markets have also opened up. While Mauritius has already granted market access to Indian mangoes subject to phytosanitary certification, Switzerland has also lifted the ban on Indian mangoes. A delegation for South Korea recently visited Mumbai and have been satisfied with the quality.
