Monday, December 14, 2009

Australia: Mango growers want to boost Japan trade

Nov 17, 2009 - ABC News

Mango exporters in far north Queensland are looking at ways to increase exports to a lucrative Asian market. ... read more...

Friday, September 25, 2009

USA: It's time to adapt our mango-growing ways to South Florida

Sep 13, 2009 - Miami Herald

It is said that in India people cherish two things above all else -- the monsoon and the mango. It is in these two truths that we in South Florida can find a common ground with our brothers and sisters in Asia. ... read more...

Ghana: Poverty Reduction: Let's try mangoes

Sept 15, 2009 - Ghana News Agency

Mangoes grow very well all over the country and one needs not to undertake any feasibility studies to know that mangoes do well in tropical Ghana. The production of the fruit on a large scale could generate processing factories all over the country for the canning or bottling of mango juice. ... read more...

Philippines: Mango production increases in E. Visayas in the 1st half

Sept 17, 2009 - Business World Online

Veronica Berenguer, high value commercial crops coordinator for Eastern Visayas, said the region produced 468 metric tons of mangoes from January to June, 12% higher than the 417-MT yield in the same period last year. Nationwide, mango production went down by 14.5%, she added. ... read more...

USA: Mango suppliers' production projections

The National Mango Board is working with the organizations in the mango-producing countries
to get projections of what will be shipped to the U.S. This document contains information
from the countries currently shipping or planning to ship in the near future to the United
States and does not represent the entire year. The crop forecast document will be updated
as we receive new information from each country. Other valuable tools include (these are
links):
http://mango.org/media/12687/mango_crop_forecast.pdf

Peru prepares to export mangoes to Japan

21 sept 2009 - Living in Peru

The government of Japan will lift phytosanitary barriers imposed on Peruvian mangoes, towards the end of 2009. according to Peru’s National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa). "This will allow us to enter a market with a high demand," said Americo Florez, Senasa's, head.

Last January, a Japanese technical mission visited Peru and validated the effectiveness of hydrothermal treatment of mango fruits to prevent fruit fly infestation. The first campaign to benefit will take place in 2009-2010, since mango season in Peru starts in December.

Australia: Boffins battle fungus in mango makeover

Sep 25th, 2009 - Northern Territory News

NT Mango Association president Murray Linton said one of the biggest threats to our stocks is the dreaded anthracnose - a fungus that forms after the fruit has been shipped interstate. ... read more...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

USA: Mango deal to shift early from Mexico to Brazil

Aug 18, 2009 - The Packer

Retailers can expect an early end to Mexican keitt mango shipments from Mexico, and an early start to the Brazilian tommy atkins deal. Because of some weather problems during bloom, the northern Mexico keitt deal will likely wind down earlier than last year, William Watson, executive director of the National Mango Board, Orlando, Fla., said Aug. 18. ... read more...

Sunday, August 16, 2009

UK: Mango show attracts big gathering

Aug 14, 2009 - Associated Press of Pakistan

A large gathering at the Asia House was treated to mouth watering and delicious mangoes from Pakistan and its qualities as the ‘King of Fruits’ was recounted by the food experts. The Mango Show was arranged last night by the Commercial Section of Pakistan High Commission under the supervision of Commercial Counsellor Saira Najeeb Ahmed ably assisted by Naghma Butt, Humera Afzal and Anela Hasan. ... read more...

Canada: Mango Seeds May Protect Against Deadly Food Bacteria

Aug 14, 2009 - Science Daily

Pure tannins, a plant component extracted from otherwise useless mango kernels by Engels, have proven inhibitory effects against various strains of bacteria including Listeria, a potentially deadly pathogen that infected some packaged meats and caused an outbreak of disease in Canada in 2008. ... read more...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Mango project to benefit 600 Tanzania farmers

Aug 2, 2009 - East African Business Week

Some 600 farmers in the coastal belt and Zanzibar will benefit from a $2 million mangoes growing project. The project is funded by the Common Fund for Communities (CFC) of the United Nations Organisation. ... read more...

Taiwan's mango exports to Japan increase sharply

Aug 4, 2009 - The China Post

Taiwan exported 999 tons of mangoes to Japan in 2009, up 19 percent from last year because of the adoption of enhanced safety and quality controls, a Council of Agriculture (COA) official said Tuesday. ... read more...

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

India: Mango exports rose by 43 percent in 2008-09

July 27, 2009 - Thaindian News

India has seen an increase of 43.76 percent in its mango exports in 2008-09 as compared to the year before, a union minister said here Monday. “There was a drop in mango exports during 2007-08 due to quality deterioration on account of vagaries of weather, ... read more...

Monday, July 27, 2009

May: Stronger imports in Europe

by David Ivanovic

The disastrous figures for the first three months of this year seem to be something of the past. Mango imports in May have been 15% higher than for the same month in 2008, following the progress made in April. However total imports for the first 5 months are still 18% lower than last year's results.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Pakistan : 60% mango export target achieved

July 19, 2009 - Daily Times

Pakistan's mango export during the current season has crossed 60 percent of the total set target of 125,000 tonnes, which was termed as stupendous accomplishment by leading exporters and growers of the most demanding fruit of the summer season. During the last two months since the mango export ... read more...

Friday, July 17, 2009

Israeli mango season looking positive

July 16, 2009 - Fruitnet.com

Israeli mango production is tipped to rebound this season with exports due to increase by 20 per cent on last year’s 13,000-tonne total when a severe frost dented performance. ... read more...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Myanmar: Farmers work to grow export-quality mangoes

July 15, 2009 - The Myanmar Times

FRUIT farmers and the government are eyeing the export market as they work together to improve the quality of Myanmar mangoes. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association (MFVP) plan to register mango farms in upper and lower ... read more...

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

India: Kesar tickles US, UK taste buds

July 13, 2009 - The Economic Times

India’s experiment of exporting Kesar mango to the US and UK via sea has proved successful, with the consignments to these countries

reaching safely early this month. With the learning of the need for a better packaging, Apeda (Agriculture Processed Foods Export Development Authority) is now gearing up for the next season of mangoes. It is in discussions with Sainsbury’s, one of the top three retail chains in UK, for marketing the mangoes in the UK. It is also looking to set up three more irradiation plants in the country, which will allow more exports to ... read more...

Pakistan: First consignment of Pakistani mangoes arrives in China

July 14, 2009 - Pakissan.com

The first consignment of Pakistani mangoes famous world-wide for its taste and aroma arrived here by PIA on Friday. The consignment of 1.5 ton was imported by the Midtrans Commodities International Company, a Chinese based Pakistani enterprise. "This time with the co-operation of three organisations namely the Pakistan Horticulture Development and ... read more...

Monday, July 13, 2009

USA: Economy, weather don’t hinder MangoMania

July 12, 2009 - Cape Coral Daily Breeze

If you love mangos, then Cape Coral was the place to be last weekend. The delicious tropical fruit was at the heart of the 13th annual MangoMania festival, which celebrates all things Pine Island, and of course, all things mango. Held at the German Ameri-can Social Club, MangoMania is the brainchild of the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce, which uses the wildly popular event ... read more...

Qatar: Sweet success for Pakistan mango exports to world

July 12, 2009 - Gulf Times

Worldwide mango exports from Pakistan reached 45,000 tonnes by June-end, Pakistani Ambassador Mohamed Asghar Afridi has said. Speaking at a ‘Mango Festival’, hosted by the Pak Youth Society (PYS) over the weekend, Afridi, who was attending as a chief guest, said his country’s target ... read more...

Australia: Mango wine tempts Chinese palates

July 13, 2009 - www.abc.net.au

A Central Australia mango wine maker says the market for sweet wines in China is growing due to the new affluence and wide distribution possibilities. Johnny Crayford, from Ti Tree, says he has expanded his exports to China to four major cities within seven months. ... read more...

USA: Indian mangoes becoming more affordable in U.S., thanks to N.J. dentist

July 12, 2009 - New Jersey Real-Time News

Two years ago, Bhaskar Savani played a leading role in lifting the federal ban on Indian mangoes. Now that they are in U.S. supermarkets, Savani is on the leading edge of another campaign -- making the fruit more accessible. Savani is a dentist by trade, but really, that's just a day job. To find out what really drives him -- what has made him something of an evangelist in recent years -- ask him about mangoes. Specifically, ... read more...

Taiwan: Mango exports ahead of last year's pace

July 10, 2009 - Taiwan News

The volume and value of Taiwan's mango exports were dramatically higher in the first six months of 2009 than during the same period last year, despite many of the country's major customers feeling the pinch of the global economic slump. Taiwan exported 2,017 tons of mangoes worth US$5.24 million between January and June, 183.6 percent and 60.9 percent ahead of last year's 711 tons and US$3.25 million at the same time last year, according to Council of Agriculture figures. With July considered to be the main mango ... read more...

Friday, July 10, 2009

Australia: Cleaning the cure for mango disease

July 9, 2009 - abc.net.au

Queensland researchers have proven that mango disease can be reduced by 20 per cent, simply by taking the cleaners through a plantation. The Queensland Department of Primary Industries found growers who improve the cleanliness of their orchard can reduce the amount of chemicals used, and improve fruit quality within ... read more...

Pakistan: About 45,000 tons of mangoes exported in 2008-09

July 10, 2009 - Pakissan.com

Pakistan has exported around 45,000 tons of mangoes till June 30, 2009 which is almost double of the quantity exported previous year during the same period. Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) has fixed an export target of 100,000 tons of mangoes this year (2009 season), and keeping in view the present exports figure, the Board is hopeful that it will achieve this target. ... read more...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

New US import data available tomorrow!

by David Ivanovic

Stay tuned as tomorrow I’ll publish the latest US import data for May 2009. EU data will be availalbe a few weeks later.

Mangues : le Mali conquérant

July 7, 2009 - Les Afriques

La mangue malienne, réputée bonne, ne s’exportait guère. Les producteurs se sont dotés d’une unité de transformation. Dès la première année, elle a gagné 2% du marché mondial. 1000 tonnes exportées en 2008, soit 2% du marché mondial. 50% en plus pour 2009. La mangue malienne part résolument à l’assaut de l’Afrique et de l’Europe, ses débouchés. Et l’amélioration n’est pas que ... read more...

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

USA: It's a banner mango year for Southwest Florida

July 8, 2009 - The News Press

From Fort Myers backyards to Pine Island commercial groves, growers report a fruitful year. Some tropical fruit specialists and horticulturists are even calling it a bumper crop. Others say the season looks superior to last year but would have turned out even better without May storms. ... read more...

Ghana continues to improve export quality of fruit and veg

July 8, 2009 - FreshPlaza

Ghana is busy further improving the quality of it's export. Recently they have started to use a cool house at Tema harbour. From here pineapples (MD2) and bananas are shipped by reefer. By using this cool house, Shed9, the expected cold chain from producer to consumer via sea is a bit better. It is the intention ... read more...

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Japanese Mango Imports in 2008

by David Ivanovic

While wandering in the fresh produce section of a Seiyu store in Chiba Prefecture (east of Tokyo) in June 2008 (after the VD incident…), I could not but stop and admire the exotic fruit section. What got my attention was the Australian mango section: all perfectly riped, carefully wrapped and almost whispering to me how great they would taste! I didn’t mind the JPY 1,000 price tag (approx. US$10), I was charmed!

It’s been a while now since I haven’t followed mango imports in Japan, and I was once more surprised to realize how little the import volumes were, despite the obvious popularity of mango in the country. In 2008, a little more than 12,500 t. were shipped to Japan, for a CIF value of JPY 5 billion (roughly US$ 50 million).

japan mkt share mango 2008Mexico is by far Japan’s number one supplier, with 45% of all imports in 2008 provided by this origin. Shipments from the Philippines amounted to nearly 30%, followed by Thailand (13%).

filipino mango seiyu Just for fun, I have included today’s retail price of an Ataulfo mango from the Philippines (above), which at about $US1.50 represents the cheapest mangoes available in Japan. Now look at the link below and admire the Japanese grown “Eyes of the Sun”: http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=4248

Friday, July 3, 2009

EU15: Imports picking up in April

by David Ivanovic

Despite the fact that mango shipments were significantly lower for the 4 first months of 2009 (-26% when compared to 2008), April levels were up by 7%. Any insights on these recent movements are welcomed, however I suspect a higher demand due to a higher availability of Brazilian mangoes & lower prices due to poor demand in Feb/March.

Philippines: DA sharpens competitiveness of mango industry

July 3, 2009 - Philippine Information Agency

Arguably, the Philippine mango is the best and the sweetest in the world but it needs further boost to sharpen its global competitiveness. With this, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is working on a nine-point program for the local industry to increase production and improved quality of their mango produce.DA Secretary Arthur Yap in a recent gathering of mango growers and exporters said that the industry has scored ... read more...

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Australia: More mangoes go to China

July 1, 2009 - The Cairns Post

THE volume of Australian mangoes bound for China is expected to substantially increase following the success of a joint industry and government campaign to improve quarantine protocols. ... reade more...

India: Move to compile a mango tree encyclopaedia

July 1, 2009 - The Times of India

The lingering, luscious mango or Magnifera Indica, rightly called the king of fruits, has won many hearts. It is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates throughout southern Asia, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, South and Central Africa and Australia and has over 2,000 cultivars. A move is afoot to compile the physiology and morphology of all the available ... read more...

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

India: Mango development centre planned in two districts

June 30, 2009 - The Hindu

To ensure integrated development of the mango industry in the State, a state-of-the-art Mango Development Centre (MDC), said to be the first of its kind in the country, is being established in Chickaballapur and Kolar districts at a cost of Rs. 19 crore. The MDC, which would be created under the Centrally-sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, would aim at improving ... read more...

Monday, June 29, 2009

Taiwan: Fumigation treatment plant helps Tainan mango exports to Japan

June 27, 2009 – Taiwan News

A fumigation treatment plant has played a big role in the success in a Tainan County town's efforts to export Irwin mango exports to Japan, cutting down the time it takes to process the fruit before shipping it overseas.

2903603 Mango growers in the Tainan County town of Yujing said that in the past, Taiwan had mainly exported Chin Huang mangoes, a yellow-skinned mango, because they could be stored for a longer time than the more popular Irwin mango, with its sweet fragrance and attractive red color. They said that because the Irwin mango cannot be stored for long and its … read more…

New Yorkers get ready for a pulpy treat of Kesar mangoes

June 27, 2009 - The Economic Times

India's first sea-borne cargo of Kesar mangoes to the US will try their luck in New York from next week. They could probably also feature

at the Summer Fancy Food Show that is being held in New York from June 28-30. Mumbai-based Sachi Exports (India) is planning to market the mango in New York and at the show through its US-based sister firms Alphonso.US and Sachi Exports (USA) with the help of Apeda, the export promotion body ... read more...

Friday, June 26, 2009

Ghana: Mango Growers Join Forces for Improvement

26 June, 2009 - The Ghanaian Chronicle

To develop the Brong-Ahafo Mango Value Chain for the region to be identified as a major quality mango producing centre in Ghana, to the delight of customers with quality fruits at competitive cost, a total of six Mango Growing District Associations have formed a coalition to live to the task
... read more...

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Philippines dried mango quota unable to meet demand

June 24, 2009 - Global Nation

The market for Philippine dried mangoes remains high but production is unable to meet demand from 40 countries, a Cebu-based food production company said yesterday. Justin Uy, president of Profood International Corp., said the company processes 7,000 tons of mangoes every month but it is insufficient to meet international market demand. Uy is one of several businessmen participating in the trade mission to Macau today. “Demand for mango is growing but our land reform law moves slow. There is less area for farmers to plant. If the government ... read more...

Smaller trees could mean more mangoes

June 24, 2009 - abc.net.au

Mango orchards could produce more fruit in future if smaller mango tree variety trials in the Northern Territory are successful. Katherine mango breeder Ken Rayner says no small mango tree varieties are currently commercially available in Australia. He has also successfully grown a ... read more...

India: Contract farming harming mango production

June 24, 2009 - Dawn.com

The atmosphere is suffocating. The stench in the vegetable and fruit market is overpowering, but Ali Sher has to move fast amidst scorching heat, wiping sweat from his face. Looking completely exhausted, he is busy earning whatever he can before the current mango season comes to an end.
Thanks to its excellent flavour, the mango ... read more...

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Pakistan: Mango export doubles this year

By Tanveer Sher - Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan’s mango export during the current season has doubled compared to corresponding period of the last year as the current pace may help exporters to accomplish desired goal of total 125,000 tonne exports. Fruit traders and exporters claimed from May till June 20, 2009 the country has exported around 30,000 tonnes of fruit, which is far better compared to around 15,000 tonnes achieved during the same period of 2008 while the total export at the end of the mango season stood at around 70 to 75,000 tonnes.

The expected mango yield during the current season is anticipated to be in the range of 1.6 million to 1.8 million tonnes and out of this quantity, the target of 125,000 tonne appears inadequate as indicated by most of the exporters which they blamed on account of lack of marketing in foreign markets and not enough support at the government level to help raise export target to substantial level. Currently the major exporting variety of mango includes ... read more...

Monday, June 22, 2009

Recession hits UK exotics consumption

note from David: yup, mangoes down by 36% for the first three months of 2009.

June 22, 2009 - Reefer Trend
The sales value of tropical fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and melons has dropped by 5.5% with volumes falling even more steeply

India: Consignment via sea route to boost mango export

June 22, 2009 - The Financial Express

American consumers visiting supermarkets would soon get juicy Indian mangoes at a far cheaper rate as the first consignment of mango sent through sea route is expected to arrive in New York by this week. A shipment carrying 14 tonne of 'Kesar' mango has already left Mumbai port on June 12 and is expected to arrive in the US this week. This is the first ever ... read more...

India: Poor production hits mango growers in state

June 20, 2009 - The Times of India

For the mango producers in UP who have been hit by poor production this year there is at least one reason to cheer. The exporters from the state have bagged off-shore deals to export the `Nawab' brand of the Dussehri mango to Russia and Kuwait. Two exporters have received export orders from Moscow and ... read more...

Friday, June 19, 2009

Coming soon: Mangoes, bananas that last longer

Indian Express - June 19, 2009

The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, is working to develop transgenic varieties of mangoes and bananas that will take longer than usual to ripen. The aim is to increase the shelf life of these fruits and, thus, cut down on their wastage during transportation.“India produces 45 million tonnes of fruits every year but 30 to 50 per cent is lost to post-harvest deterioration. NBRI is researching how to delay fruit ripening and, ... read more...

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Australia: Mango export boost

June 16, 2009

MORE Australian mangoes will be exported to China under a new deal struck between both nations. 

China has agreed to a revised quarantine protocol which means growers will have more options in monitoring their orchards for signs of pests … read more…

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Taiwan: Tainan mangoes to target Japanese

Taiwan Magistrate Su Huan-jhih said yesterday that he will target top spenders when promoting the county's Irwin strain of mangoes during a trip to Japan. Su made the remarks at a news conference prior to his scheduled departure for Japan tomorrow to promote the fruit, of which a first batch of more than 500 kg was undergoing the quarantine process.

Su is expected to take part in a series of promotional activities in department stores and hotels in Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido during his six-day visit.

Su said the Irwin mangoes will "target top-spending customers," adding that a case of just three mangoes will be sold from 2,800 yen (US$28.40) to 6,300 yen, depending on quality. Every case will include a Japanese introduction to the fruit, as well as stay-fresh bags, Su said. Su said the county government worked with international delivery operators last year to send their products directly to the customers in a "direct delivery from Taiwan" system.


Source: etaiwannews.com

Publication date: 6/10/2009

Mexican mango deal to come up short

by fruitnet.com

The North American market is set to receive fewer Mexican red mangoes during the summer marketing period following production complications

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Pakistan: Country produces around two million tons of mango annually

The country is producing about 1.8 to 2 million tons of mango annually while its local demand is between 1.2 to 1.4 million tons, according to All Pakistan Mango Growers. About 250 different varities of mango are being cultivated in Multan, a private TV channel reported.

Mango growers in Multan are facing difficulties in exporting their product in the international market. Export of the 'king of fruits' is a problem for local growers, which forced them to sell their product in local market on cheaper rates. A Mango grower, Faqeer Muhammad while talking to private TV channel said Multan's mango are famous in the world due to its delicious taste but government is not paying any attention for its export.

Director Mango Growers Association, Major Tariq Khan (Retd), said that no cold storage and other facilities are available in Sindh and Multan for mangoes storage.

President, Women Chamber of Commerce Multan, Aneela Iftikhar urged the government to help in marketing mango so that the country can earn valuable foreign exchange. Mango fruit is rich in vitamins, A, B and C, and contains water, protein, sugar, fats, calcium, phosphorus, fiber and iron.

Mangoes, according to latest scientific research as well as of folk wisdom, are known to increase the body resistance against dysentery, cholera and tuberculosis. It is said "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", this is equally true of the mango.


Source: pakissan.com

Publication date: 6/9/2009

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Mali: la mangue flatte les palais et pourrait gonfler les porte-monnaie

Voice of America
http://www.voanews.com/french/2009-05-06-voa4.cfm

06/05/2009


C’est le temps des mangues en Afrique de l’Ouest, notamment au Mali, où le gouvernement du président Amadou Toumani Touré s’efforce de capitaliser sur le goût des consommateurs européens pour les produits exotiques. La filière mangue pourrait permettre même de compenser le manque à occasionner par les déboires de la filière coton, estiment les autorités maliennes.

Mohammed Sidibé, coordonateur du projet « Cadre intégré » de promotion de la manque ne tarit pas d’éloges à l’égard du potentiel économique de ce fruit.« La mangue connaît, à l’exportation, une dynamique certaine. De 2005 à maintenant, les chiffres à l’exportation sont passés d’un peu moins de 3000 t à 12676 t l’année dernière », a-t-il fait remarquer.

Parmi les problèmes auxquels est confrontée la filière manque au Mali, notre correspondante Aghate Diama fait état « de la faible qualité des mangues exportées, du manque de professionnalisme des acteurs, de la faiblesse des organisations professionnelles de la filière.»

Friday, June 5, 2009

EU Mango Market Share in 2008

by David Ivanovic

In 2008, Brazil was once more the most important suppliers of fresh mangoes to the EU-15 countries. More than 95,000 metric tonnes, or roughly 40% of total imports, originated from this origin.

eurostat mango mkt share 2008The rapidly expanding Peruvian market share represented 22% during the same period (only 12% in 2004).

FBD: India’s Mango Exports likely to drop in current year

Despite the fact that India’s mango exports have recorded 60% growth in the first month of the current season the exporters are expecting much lower growth in mango exports from the country in the current season as the production is estimated to have declined.

According to Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), mango exports to the US stood at 31.7 tons in April, 2009 compared to around 20 tons in the corresponding month last year.

However, initial estimates by the Agriculture Ministry, Government of India, suggested that crop output may be lower by around 10 per cent.

Mango output may fall by almost 20 per cent since the crop suffered damages due to the impact of an erratic climate.

Mango is the most important fruit accounting for 37.60% of area (1.3 million hectares) and for 22.21% of total fruit production (14.0 million metric tons) in the country. India’s share in the world production of mango is 54.2%.

India exported 54350.80 tons of mangos to UAE, UK, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia in 2007-08. India had exported 143 tones of mango to the US. The US allowed the import of Indian mangoes in 2008.

Last year mangoes grown in the country were around 11.9 million tons and current year’s crop is estimated to be a little over 10 million tons.

Due to inconsistent weather conditions in many parts of the mango growing states in the country the crop has been damaged around 70% to 90%, it has been learnd.

Source:foodbizdaily.com

Publication date: 6/5/2009

‘Artificially-ripened’ mangoes seized

COIMBATORE: Health officials of the Coimbatore Corporation seized a tonne of mangoes that were allegedly ripened by using calcium carbide stones or powder.

The mangoes were seized from wholesale outlets in the city, Assistant City Health Officer R. Sumathi said.

Agitated by the surprise checks and refuting charges of artificial ripening, wholesale dealers threatened to stage a protest.

But, the health officials removed sachets of carbide stones kept among with the mangoes and dumped these into garbage trucks of the Corporation.

The mangoes were destroyed at the Corporation’s garbage yard at Vellalore, Dr. Sumathi said.

“We told the wholesale fruit dealers of the chronic poisoning they cause by using this chemical to ripen mangoes. They cannot think of only business,” she said. Listing the health hazards, the official said calcium carbide had carcinogenic properties.

Source: www.hindu.com

Publication date: 6/5/2009

Availability of Most Mango Varieties in Stores Encourages Consumer Promotion

US: National Mango Board Welcomes June as Mango Month

For the second consecutive year, the National Mango Board (NMB) is celebrating June as Mango Month. Although mangos are available year-round, June is when retailers will be stocked with the greatest number of varieties in U.S. markets. To ensure consumers are aware of this mango abundance, the NMB has helped showcase Mango Month in some of the most popular consumer media, such as national food and lifestyle magazines, top daily newspapers, web sites and a television and online segment with spokesperson Ingrid Hoffmann. These communication efforts are the perfect way to kick off the high-volume mango season and keep mangos top-of-mind with consumers all summer long.

Source: National Mango Board

Publication date: 6/5/2009

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

India: Mango prices shoot up on short production

Mango eaters are paying higher prices for the most popular fruit owing to short production in Sindh this year. However, exporters and the government are confident of achieving the 100,000 tons target despite economic crunch in the buyer countries.

However, there were divergent views about the size of the Sindh mango crop and its impact on the retail prices. Wholesalers in the Fruit Mandi at Super Highway believed that there was 40-50 per cent fall in mango production and the prices were 20-30 per cent higher over the last year. They feared further increase in prices in case of rains.

Retailers are charging Rs35-60 per kg depending on size and quality. However, they said that the consumers were buying low quality Sindhri as high and good qualities of the fruit was being exported to various western countries.

A retailer at Burns Road said he was selling average size and quality Sindhri variety at Rs45-50 per kg as compared to Rs35-40 last year.

Member Executive Council of All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association Matin Siddiqui told Dawn that the Sindhri variety was selling Rs5 to Rs6 per kg higher over the last year.

‘We will achieve the overall 100,000 tons mango export target this year despite low production in Sindh. Exports are going normal,’ he said, adding that the PIA had reduced the freight rate for the UK to Rs100 from Rs115 per kg but it would not make any significant impact.

Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) Chief Executive Officer Shamoon Sadiq said the mango production in Sindh dropped 20 per cent this year as against the total production of 350,000 tons last year.

‘The country produces 1.6-1.7 million tons mango every year of which Punjab share stands somewhere between 1.3-1.4 million tons. There are reports of bumper crop of the fruit in Punjab,’ he said.

He added that bad weather and pest attacks damaged the Sindh crop which pushed up mango prices this year. On fixing higher export target of 100,000 tons despite low Sindh crop and falling purchasing power worldwide, he said Pakistan exported 50-60 per cent of total mango exports to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries where low and medium priced mangoes were in high demand.

He however ruled out any drop in mango exports to these traditional markets this year despite global economic slowdown and financial crunch.

About 15 per cent of the total mango exports shipped to the United Kingdom where consumers demand fine varieties. ‘We have some other European countries where high quality mangoes are shipped in small quantities,’ Shamoon added.

‘We expect to earn over $40 million from 100,000 tons mango export this year as compared to $27-30 million (87,000 tons) last year,’ he said.

Pakistan has explored new markets like China, Iran, Germany and Jordan which will make it easier to achieve the target. ‘Mango is also exported to Canada,’ he added.

There is also no fear from India as its exports get underway from February and ends in May, while Pakistani exports starts from May and concludes in September.

India produces 13.1 million tons of mangoes every year while Pakistan ranks third in production and holds fourth position in export in the world.

Shamoon said that the PIA had reduced the freight for the UK but it should also announce cut in freight for overall mango export markets.

Source:www.dawn.com

Publication date: 6/3/2009

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

India: Poor mango production

Mango production reportedly would decline by 35 to 40 per cent in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts this year due to prolonged drought and other unfavourable weather conditions such as nor'westers or storms.

Experts at the Regional Horticulture Research Station, Chapainawabganj, mentioned that untimely rain caused the vegetative growth of trees with new leaves hampering their productive growth. Then the untimely budding of mango trees due to fluctuation of temperature as well as knocking down by seasonal storms of green mangoes have been responsible for poor yield.

The mango is the king of fruits. So we feel research work should be carried on in order to overcome the adverse impact of climate change on mango production.


Source: thedailystar.net

Publication date: 6/2/2009

India: Mango goes scarce in local market; agri minister to go to UK to promote it

This year mango yield in the state has been a hit, making the fruit, especially the much-liked Kesar variety, go scarce in local markets. Undeterred, State Agriculture Minister Dilip Sanghani is to head a nine-member delegation to UK for promotion of the varieties of the fruit grown in the state over there.

“Gujarat produces quality mango varieties like Kesar and Alphonso and there is a tremendous scope to market them in the UK. The main objective of our visit to that country is to promote the export of mangoes from the state,” said Sanghani.

The minister told Newsline on Thursday that his department had already dispatched a cargo containing sample mangoes of both the varieties to some leading buyer companies in London. The delegation will leave for London as soon as these importers pass the samples of the fruit.

Director (Horticulture) S R Chaudhari said during their five-day stay in London, the delegation members would meet leading fruit importers there and also study various aspects of its marketing such as the volume of demand and the quality of mangoes the local consumers insist on.

Kesar mangoes from Junagadh and Kutch and Alphonso from Valsad and Navsari are in great demand among NRIs and others in the UK.

The other members of the delegation who will visit the UK include Principal Secretary (Agriculture) P N Roy Choudhary, Director (Horticulture) S R Chaudhari and six leading mango-growers from Saurashtra and Kutch and south Gujarat.

Sanghani said besides in the UK, Kesar and Alphonso mangoes are in demand in the US, Japan and several African as well as Gulf countries. There are many mango-growers in Gujarat who do not know where and how to market their produce in overseas countries, he said, adding, “The government wants to be a link between these mango-growers and importers.”


Source: indianexpress.com


Publication date: 6/2/2009

Monday, May 11, 2009

India: More mangoes go to US in April, but drastic decline in production may hit exports

No wonder, there are no good mangoes in the retail market in Mumbai. Mangoes are increasingly exported, shipping nearly 60% higher fruit to the US alone in the first month of the current season, even as the production of the delicious fruit is estimated to have declined. Mango exports to the US stood at 31.7 tonnes in April, compared to around 20 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, according to Apeda, the government's export promotion body on agricultural and processed food products.

During the 2008 mango season starting from April, India had exported 143 tonnes of mangoes to the US valued at around Rs 2 crore. The US allowed import of Indian mangoes in 2008 following former President George Bush's visit to India in 2007.

"At present Alphonso variety of mangoes are being exported to the US only after the irradiation process. The shipment of other varieties like Kesar, Baiganapally, Dussheri, Chausa and Langra will begin shortly," as official with Apeda has told PTI.

Mango production in 2009 is likely to dip as the crop has failed due to erratic climate in key growing states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. According to trade estimates, the output is expected to decline by 30% to 8 million tonnes in the 2009 season, compared with 11.9 million tonnes during the last season.


Source: fnbnews.com

Publication date: 5/11/2009

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

India: Mango crop severely hit by nor’wester

The nor’wester that blew through Malda yesterday, not only killed seven people but also, heavily damaged the mango crop in three blocks of the district.

According to the mango development officer in Malda Mr SN Khara, 50 per cent of the mango crop was damaged in the storm.

The severe storm damaged several dwellings, causing a number of house collapses. Seven persons died in the nor'wester across the district. The block development officers have been asked to prepare reports of house damage, particularly in the Manikchak, Kaliachak II and English Bazaar blocks. “The final picture is yet to be pieced together,” said the Malda SDO Mr Prakash Pal.

Already suffering from a lack of rain, mango farming has been hit hard in the district this year. The storm and damage to whatever crop was left has compounded the problem for the mango farmers.

“The district hardly received any rain in March and April. The dry spell caused mango fruits to drop off the trees. Yesterday's storm took a further toll on the crop,” lamented Mr Subodh Mishra, secretary of the Malda Mango Merchants’ Association.


Source: thestatesman.net

Publication date: 5/6/2009

India: High prices may rob mangoes of their sweetness this season

The king of all fruits — mango is everyone’s delight. Savouring this tropical fruit during the summer is an unadulterated joy. But with low production and the searing heat this year, you may not get to gobble up the yellow pulpy fruit this season. Moreover mangoes, which are brought to the city from Hyderabad and Nagpur, are getting perished during transportation.

With three varieties — Dashehari, Safeda and Tota Pari — having hit the market, the prices of the fruit will remain high this summer. While the supply of Safeda is in abundance, the yield of Dashehari will take a hit once it comes to the market. Priced between Rs 40 and Rs 50 per kg in retail and between Rs 25 and Rs 35 in wholesale, the production of Safeda has been good this year.

“We normally receive six to seven vehicles loaded with 450 to 500 boxes of the fruit daily. Since the beginning of this week when the temperature began to surge, cartons at the bottom of trolleys are often found perished. Today too, an entire row of cartons was found rotten,” said Kishori Lal, supervisor of fruit mandi in Sector 26.

“This year, the yield of Safeda is the maximum amongst all the varieties. The yield of Dashehari variety, immensely popular for its delicate taste, is the lowest and its prices will be high once it hits the market during monsoons,” said J S Mavi, secretary, Sector-26 market committee.

But there is a silver lining. “If the weather improves and the temperatures dip in the coming days, the prices of Safeda may plummet in the coming days,” he adds.

“Last year, the prices were 15 per cent less. As the summer progressed, there was a further dip in the prices. This year, the prices are expected to remain relatively high,” says Raju, a fruit vendor.

The Sandoori variety, known for its taste and colour, has already surpassed Safeda in terms of price. Priced at Rs 60, the Sandoori variety has seen 40 per cent increase in its price as compared to the last year.

Even the low-priced Tota Pari will cost Rs 20 per kilogram, a surge of 100 per cent as compared to the last year. The price of Alphanso mango brought to the city from Ratnagiri is beyond the reach of the common man. It’s currently priced at Rs 450 a dozen.

“The prices of pulses and sugar have already upset my monthly budget. Now, seasonal fruits have also become unaffordable,” said Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 47.


Source: expressindia.com


Publication date: 5/6/2009

India: Mango exports may fall on low output

Mango ouput may fall by almost 20 per cent since the crop suffered damages this year. Initial estimates by the agriculture ministry suggest that crop output may be lower by around 10 per cent. Last week’s pest attack in northern India has further dampened the situation.

“There has been some adverse impact of erratic climate on mango production in Gujarat and Maharashtra but the crop was normal in both northern and southern parts of the country when surveyed recently. On average, the mango production will be lower by less than 10 per cent this year across the country”, Union Agriculture Ministry officials said. But this comment was made before the pest attack which spoiled the northern crop of Dussehri mangoes.

According to the data available with the ministry, total mango production in 2006-07 was at around 13.5 million tonnes. The official data for 2007-08 is not available, but according to industry estimates, around 11.9 million tonnes of mangoes were grown in the country last year. Current year’s crop is estimated to be a little over 10 million tonnes.

It may be mentioned here that the Kesar variety of mango is quite popular in the export market. Lower production and global recession are likely to bring down the mango exports this year, which consist of Kesar and Alphonso varieties only.

Mango growers, exporters and government officials believe that production in Gujarat will decline substantially this year. According to the data available with the state horticulture department, the mango production in 2007-08 stood at 930,000 tonnes and the total acreage was 109,000 hectares.

“In the wake of adverse climatic conditions, we expect the mango production in South Gujarat to be only 20 per cent of the total production witnessed previous year. All the eight co-operative societies in south Gujarat procured 1,000 tonnes of mango last year,” said Hemant Nayak, secretary, Amalsar Mango Co-operative Society.

“Warm winter severely hit the flowering process. We will be able to get only 20 per cent crop this year. The arrival of Kesar variety of mango starts from May. There will be a short supply of mango in Gujarat markets,” said Ajit Desai, chairman and managing director, Desai Fruits and Vegetables, a Gujarat based leading fruit exporter.

The Dussehri belt in Uttar Pradesh is also in gloom this year as in some areas around 90 per cent crop has been damaged due to inconsistent weather conditions.

As a result of this the exporters are shying away from taking orders. The Chairman of the UP Mango Export Council, Sheikh Insram Ali informed Business Standard that the Dussehri mango has been exported to Wes t Asia and Singapore from Malihabad, Saharanpur and Amroha regions of UP.

According to him, the export will dip by 30 to 40 per cent. The biggest exporter of mango from UP, Nadeem Siddiqui of Shahnaaj Exports, said 50 per cent crop has been damaged in Saharanpur and Amroha. Nadeem who has the credit of being the first exporter of Langda and Chausa variety of mango, stated that around 20 tonnes of both these varieties may be exported this year.

Siddiqui, however, said last year around 900 tonnes of Alphonso from Maharashtra and Kesar from Gujrat were exported to Europe, US and the Gulf countries through the sea route. He said that this year around 980 to 1,000 tonnes Alphonso will be exported. Though Insram Ali said every year mango used to do business worth Rs 2,400 crore from UP but this year growers are not expecting business more than Rs 500 crore.

West Bengal is also likely to witness a record drop in mango production this year, as adverse weather conditions in major mango-producing districts like Malda and Murshidabad has resulted up to a 70 per cent drop in flowering on trees.

Last year West Bengal produced 623,000 tonnes of mangoes, out of which Malda and Murshidabad accounted for more than 50 per cent of the total produce.

Tarun Ghosh, a farmer in Nadia district of West Bengal said, flowering had been lower by 50 per cent this year in Nadia too.


Source: business-standard.com

Publication date: 5/6/2009

Monday, May 4, 2009

Uganda: Farmers get training on mango growing

In a bid to stop the importation of mango pulp and boost local production of the fruit, Britannia Allied Industries has embarked on a training campaign for farmers.

“There is potential to increase mango production but we need to create avenues for this by training farmers in basics needed to get good quality mangoes. I have started this campaign and will not rest until I have achieved this goal,” Mr Hasmukh Dawda, the chairman of House of Dawda, said at a meeting with senior agronomists from India last week.

He said his firm needs over 5,000 tonnes of mangoes for juice production per annum but it can only get between 800 and 2,000 from Ugandan farmers.
Mr Dawda said the company spends about Shs5 billlion on importing mango pulp from India and other parts of the world.

“We want this money to boost local production of mangoes. This will increase farmers’ earnings and improve their livelihoods,” Mr Dawda said.

He said efforts to import 25,000 seedlings of Alphonse mango type from India had failed due to government bureaucracy. “Alphonse is the best mango type for juice production,” Mr Dawda said.

The company hired Mr Manoj Patel and Mr Snemal Shetty, some of India’s senior agronomists, to train farmers on how to advance production of quality mangoes.


Source: monitor.co.ug

Publication date: 5/4/2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

India: Mango exports to US take a beating on economic slowdown

India's efforts of developing a market in the US for its mangoes have taken a short-term hit due to the economic slowdown. The US
quarantine inspectors will be in Maharashtra from April 7 but mango exporters have not yet begun preparations like meeting growers, placing orders and booking the irradiation facility.

The irradiation facility of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) at Lasalgaon is the only such facility for mango exports in the country. In 2008, nearly 350 tonnes of mangoes were exported to the US from this facility.

Currently, non-resident Indians (NRIs) are the major consumers of Indian mangoes in the US. But efforts are on to cultivate a taste for the king of Indian fruits among local Americans. "Some traders exporting to the US even incurred losses last year. But they are confident of the potential of the US market," said an officer of the Maharashtra marketing department
.

So marketing efforts will continue despite fall in exports. "Most of the US demand is for the Alphonso mango. But this is a delicate fruit and has problems of spongy tissue. This year, orders are fewer due to the general economic slowdown," said director of the Andheri-based Om Mangoes, Parag Gandhi, an exporter.

Last year, he air freighted 32 containers of the fruit to the US each carrying 418 boxes of a dozen mangoes were in the consumer's hands, it was priced at $25-30 per fruit.

Sending mangoes by air is the only option currently available to exporters. "Air freight comprises 45% of the total cost of the mango," said Mr Gandhi.

"Apeda is trying to send its first container-load of mangoes by ship this year which will reduce the transportation cost by 50%," said Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) project officer, Santosh Patil.

Maharashtra's mango yield is expected to be 35-40% lower this year, due to changes in climatic conditions since there was hardly any winter this year. Due to the high temperatures prevailing in the winter season, there was considerable flower and fruit drop.


Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

Publication date: 3/31/2009

India: Israeli technology to increase mango yield

India will soon adopt an Israeli technology to rejuvenate mango trees that will increase the productivity of the crop.

The National Horticultural Board has placed orders for two Israeli machines Canopy Management Pruning Machine which can mechanically rejuvenate trees in large areas, NHB Managing Director, Mr Bijay Kumar said.

“Even as the area under mango production is increasing every year, the productivity has not gone up as there is an urgent need for rejuvenation of the trees, but farmers are averse to cut or prune their plants, which is affecting productivity,” he said.

The machines are a set of five equipments, which can pluck fruits that reduces post harvest losses and can also be used for spraying, Mr Kumar said, adding each machine will cost Rs 25 lakh.

“We can also use the machines for plucking and spraying on coconut and areca nut trees,” Mr Kumar said.

“The first machine will arrive within a month and we will give it to the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (Bangalore). The other will arrive in June and it would be given to the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (Lucknow) for bette r acclimation, he said.


Source: thehindubusinessline.com

Publication date: 4/2/2009

India: Mango irradiation for export to start from April 13

Paving way for safe mango exports in 2009, the irradiation facility of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre at Lasalgaon in Maharastra's Nasik district will start its operation from April 13, a government body said.

"The irradiation plant of BARC at Lasalgaon is the only such facility for mango exports in the country. It will start operation from April 13," a senior official at the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said.

Irradiation is a modern food preservation technology that can reduce the risk of food poisoning, control food spoilage and extend shelf-life of food.

The process got a shot in the arm when the US decided to import Indian mangoes in 2008. The US prefers irradiation to get rid of an insect pest mango seed weevils and fruit fly from the fruits.

The US quarantine inspector, on behalf of American importers, will be visiting the plant on April 10 to check the procedure of irradiation and also ensure that Indian mangoes do not carry any specific pest, an Indian plant quarantine official said.

The BARC plant, which has a capacity of 500 tonnes, will begin irradiation of mangoes grown in the current season in the next ten days, an Apeda official said.

At present, the Alphonso variety of mangoes are being harvested in Maharashtra. Only quality fruits are irradiated for export purpose, he said.

Mango production in 2009 season (April-September) is likely to be low as the crop has failed due to erratic climate, he said, adding that currently the crop loss cannot be quantified.

During the 2008 mango season, India exported 143 tonnes of mangoes to the US valued at Rs 2 crore approximately. Export volumes remained low as the quality of the fruit was affected by unseasonal rains while exporters too faced problems of high costs of compliance and freight, among others.


Source: hindu.com

Publication date: 4/3/2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Africa: Fruit extract shows promise as weight-loss aid

An extract derived from a West African fruit may help overweight people shed pounds and lower their cholesterol, a new study suggests.

The extract comes from Irvingia gabonensis, also known as African mango, a fruit commonly eaten in West Africa. Lab research has shown that extracts from the plant's seed may inhibit body fat production, through effects on certain genes and enzymes that regulate metabolism.

For the current study, researchers at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon randomly assigned 102 overweight adults to take either the plant extract or a placebo twice a day for 10 weeks. The study participants did not follow any special diet and were told to maintain their normal exercise levels.

By the end of the study, the extract group had lost a significant amount of weight -- an average of roughly 28 pounds -- while the placebo group showed almost no change.

At the same time, they showed declines in "bad" LDL cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Dr. Julius E. Oben and his colleagues report the findings in the online journal Lipids in Health and Disease. The Fairfield, California- based Gateway Health Alliances, Inc. supplied the Irvingia gabonensis extract and partially funded the research.

The study is the first well-controlled clinical trial of the extract's effectiveness as a weight-loss aid, the researchers note. But the findings, they write, suggest that Irvingia gabonensis could offer a "useful tool" for battling the growing worldwide problem of obesity and its related ills.

A few patients on the extract reported side effects, including headaches, sleep problems and gas, but the rates were similar in the placebo group.

The findings, Oben's team concludes, should "provide impetus for much larger clinical studies."


Source: reuters.com

Publication date: 3/24/2009

Kenya: Diseases cost fruit farmers Sh130 million

Mango farmers in Malindi District have lost Sh130 million in two years following refusal by exporters to buy their produce because of mango weevil, fruit fly and other diseases.

The agricultural business coordinator for Malindi and Tana River districts, Mr Genya Nyale Genya, said the companies were now doing business in Eastern Province where the fruits had not been affected.

World market

“The fruits here were affected by mango weevil, fruit fly and other diseases, making the produce uncompetitive on the world market,” he said.

East African Growers, Mzuri Exporters, Jakal Exporters and Wakashe Exporters are some of the companies that are no longer buying the fruit.

“As a result, the Malindi Farmers Association, which was started in 1959 and exported fruits to Europe, collapsed and farmers are losing Sh64 million a year,” said Mr Genya.

Addressing a farmers’ open day at Barani Secondary School, Mr Genya said all hope was not lost as the government had launched a recovery programme in the area.

He said the programme includes educating farmers on the best fruits to grow and the type of chemicals and fertilisers to use.



Source: nation.co.ke

Friday, March 20, 2009

Philippines: Mango growers eye direct exportation

Independent mango growers are urged to band together to export their products directly and eliminate unscrupulous traders that created only the thick layer of middlemen in the mango production industry.

Rene Florencio, director of Philippine Mango Industry Foundation Inc. and National Mango Action Team, told Business Bulletin that the country’s export potential has remained untapped because it becomes very expensive before it gets to the targeted destination.

According to Florencio, there are at least 9 channels of distribution before the mangoes could reach their intended market.

"We should eliminate the middle men because unscrupulous traders abound in this industry victimizing the poor mango farmer," Florencio said.

"Mango farmers should unite to dictate the price and not the middle men," he said. There are an estimated 2.5 million mango farmers in the country


Source: mb.com.ph

Publication date: 3/20/2009

Philippines: Mango production shortage expected in Pangasinan

Mango production in Pangasinan is expected to drop this year and as a result, prices are set to skyrocket, after harvests were crippled by a typhoon that hit last year.

Pangasinan is one of the top producers of mango in the country but the industry was severely affected by Typhoon Cosme which hit the province in May 2008.

The Department of Agriculture estimated damages to century-old mango trees at about P1 billion adding that it will take years to recover the loss.

Local manufacturers of dried mangos have asked for help from the government to mitigate the possible shortage.

The provincial agriculture office, meanwhile, vowed to help by giving trainings to help address the problem.


Source: abs-cbnnews.com

Publication date: 3/20/2009

National Mango Board Expands Online Marketing Efforts

Widgets, Social Networking and Web Site Improvements May Yield Big Results

The National Mango Board (NMB) continues to build a strong digital foundation to increase its online presence. By making constant updates to the mango.org Web site, delving further into social media platforms and embracing viral elements, the NMB has made it even easier for consumers, retailers, foodservice, media and industry members to have access to the latest mango information.

Viral Elements and Social Networking
In order to keep mangos top-of-mind, the NMB has created two widgets that mango fans can add to their MySpace and Facebook pages or place on their own blogs or Web sites. First up is a game widget, the Jango Mango Match Game, where players click to flip over cards and find all the matching pairs. “Our research revealed that women 25-54 are the biggest fans of casual online games, so we wanted to give them a fun pastime game that would also invite them to check out our mango recipes after each play,” said Wendy McManus, marketing director for the NMB. The Jango Mango Match Game is a great complement to the more in-depth Jango Geography game for kids, which was rolled out last fall. For recipe aficionados, the NMB has developed a mango recipe widget, which features several delicious mango recipes and automatically displays each new recipe at a time as the NMB adds a new recipe to its database.

To help get the word out about mangos, the NMB utilizes MySpace, Facebook and even YouTube in addition to its own mango.org Web site to interact with consumers and make mangos more accessible. The NMB’s mascot, Jango Mango, has a profile on MySpace as well as a fan page on Facebook. The NMB is also the administrator for the Facebook group, “Mango.org Recipes and Events” which serves up all the latest NMB news to group members. On YouTube, The NMB has its own channel with lots of entertaining and educational videos. The “How to cut a mango” video featuring “The Mango Man” Chef Allen Susser is the most popular video on the channel, indicating that consumers are hungry for practical information about how to use mangos in their own kitchens.

Mango.org For Consumers
The NMB has made several recent improvements to its mango.org Web site, and special pages are planned for every season and event coming up in its 2009 marketing program. During the winter holidays, the NMB showed consumers how to use mangos in their holiday centerpieces and in seasonal recipes with the Holiday Entertaining page. For Valentine’s Day, Ingrid Hoffmann of Simply Delicioso shared her favorite romantic mango recipes, including a video demonstration of her “I Heart” Mango Tart as part of the Love Your Mango program. And, the March Mango Madness recipes are featured on the site to help basketball fans make their party food a slam dunk with mangos.

For kids, the NMB is bringing back the Rising Mango Star Video Contest where young chefs ages 8-14 upload their mango recipe demonstration video to YouTube for a chance to win a trip to the finalists’ cook-off for the title of “Rising Mango Star”.

Mango.org For The Trade
The NMB has also expanded digital tools available to retailers, including the Mango Marketing Toolkit, which is available online at mango.org/graphics. This great resource gives retailers access to POS materials, logos, images, recipes, nutrition info and marketing messages to help them move mangos. Also available on the site is the NMB’s Mango Crop Forecast, which is designed to anticipate mango volumes in the United States and track recent pricing history.

The NMB recently improved and expanded the foodservice section of mango.org to include selecting, ripening and storage information for mangos specific to the foodservice industry. The section also teaches how to cut a mango at foodservice for the highest yield and education on the different ripeness levels of mangos to complement different dishes and preparations.

For mango producers and shippers, the NMB has beefed up the industry section of mango.org, which now includes a tools and resources section, both in English and Spanish. This section provides links to over 50 different Web pages, including produce organizations, government agencies and research universities where mango industry members can find helpful information. “Through the tools and resources page, my goal is for mango.org to become a clearinghouse of information that can help mango industry members in every phase of their business,” said William Watson, NMB executive director.

Through these continued updates and improvements to their Web site and its online presence, the NMB is using this efficient medium for maximum impact. The internet is an ideal venue for educating consumers, retailers, foodservice and mango industry members and keeping mangos top-of-mind.

Contact:
www.mango.org

Publication date: 3/20/2009

Monday, March 16, 2009

India exported 143mt mangoes to US in 2008

India exported around 143 metric tonnes of mangoes to the US during 2008 valued at Rupees two crores, ending 18 years of US ban on the import of the fruit.

According to Commerce Ministry sources, the low offtake was a result of low quality of the fruit due to unseasonal rains. The 2009 mango season is yet to commence.

The limited facility for treatment of mangoes for irradiation for export to the US, high cost of compliance with the pre-clearence, high airfreight costs, huge funds required for promotion programmes, stiff competition from countries like Mexico and Brazil are the hurdles for export of mangoes to the US, the sources said.

The Government has been coordinating with the export promotion agencies such as Agricultural Product Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Export Inspection Council (EIC) by providing necessary technical inputs and financial assistance.

The APEDA through its schemes for infrastructure development, quality development, market development and schemes for research and development (R&D) has been making efforts to gain market access for fruit and vegetables, including mangoes.

The US has allowed the imports of Indian mangoes to its country after both sides agreed to an Operational Work Plan, according to which US Department of Agriculture deputes its inspectors to India during the mango season to oversee the complete operation of mango exports, sources said.

Source: New kerala

Publication date: 3/16/200

India: Technology gives hopes to increase in mango yield

You are out in the lush green mango orchards plucking the fruit from a full-grown tree which is shorter than you are.

Thanks to modern technology and research, it is now possible to have 'draw-fed mango trees' of six to seven feet height which would not only allow you to have access to the fruit directly, but would also increase its yield.

One such technique is Ultra High Density Plantation (UDHP) which is currently being adapted and further researched by Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd in their field-laboratory in Elaymuthir in Udumalpet.

Change in cultivation pattern, clubbed with proper drip irrigation and fertilisers would help India further consolidate its position as world leaders in mango production and export, Dr P Soman, Vice-President, Jain Irrigation, said.

In UDHP, the spacing between two mango trees and row is drastically brought down from the traditional 10m X 10m to 3m X 2m and even 3m X 1m.

"This not only allows us to grow more trees per acre, but also increases the produce manifold," he said.


Source: hindu.com

Publication date: 3/16/2009

Australia: Fruit-drying plant fills export niche

Nine years ago, Rod Linnett was a Gin Gin grower of mangoes, reaping between 150 and 200 tonnes annually.

Today, as owner of McIlwraith Orchards, he is a producer and exporter of high-quality dried fruits and vegetables, sold nationally and exported to Japan.

“We set up our operation to take low-grade produce that basically was not acceptable as fresh to market, and value-add to it,” said Mr Linnett of his air-drying plant, which he established in 2000 at a cost of $500,000.

“The plant was designed to do a tonne of produce a week.”

Mr Linnett and his wife, Margaret, are among many in the Bundaberg region agri-business who are continuing to see steady growth despite the global economic crisis.

They are happy with the way things are going at their McIlwraith Road plant, having seen their range of dried product expand from mango to strawberries, pineapples, tomatoes and bananas.

All except the bananas come from local growers, and Mr Linnett also provides employment to up to half a dozen semi-permanent casual workers.

“There's a fair bit of expertise in the work,” Mr Linnett said.

They transport the finished produce using fruit and vegetable carriers, and the exports to Japan are frozen and taken in cold storage to Sydney for shipping.

The question now is to expand or not to expand.

“We're probably working to capacity at the moment,” he said.

“We have got to make the decision to make the big step and therefore expand our range.”

The decision in 2000 to diversify was made because the Linnett's felt the mango market was over-subscribed.

“We thought, we've got around 4000 too many mango trees and we could see there wasn't much of a future for us in fresh mangoes,” he said

“I don't have fears (about the future) in the economic climate because our product is generally aimed at the top end of the market,” Mr Linnett said.


Source: news-mail.com.au


Publication date: 3/16/2009

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Mali : inauguration d'un centre de conditionnement des mangues

2009-03-06 07:42:33

DAKAR, 5 mars (Xinhua) -- Le président malien Amadou Toumani Touré vient d'inaugurer, dans la zone aéroportuaire de Bamako- Sénou, un centre de conditionnement et de refroidissement des légumes et mangues dénommé "Périmètre logistique aménagé en zone aéroportuaire" (PLAZA), a-t-on appris jeudi de source proche du ministère malien de l'Economie, de l'Industrie et du Commerce.

Réalisé avec l'appui financier de la coopération néerlandaise, le PLAZA, qui a coûté 768,2 millions de francs CFA (près de de 200 millions de dollars), est doté d'une capacité globale de traitement annuel de 3.000 tonnes de mangues par compagne de 120 jours et de 700 tonnes de haricot vert, précise l'Agence de presse panafricaine.

L'infrastructure bénéficiera bientôt du Programme de compétitive et de diversification de la Banque mondiale (PCDA) d'un financement et d'activités de mise à niveau et de modernisation de 600 millions de FCFA.

Le financement portera sur l'acquisition d'une chaîne mécanisée, l'extension de travaux complémentaires de Géni civil, l'appui à la gestion opérationnelle et le renforcement des capacités de la " Task-force" et des acteurs de la filière mangue.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

India: Project for mango

A number of schemes for development of the mango fruit had started with big promises but without any result. Malihabad of Lucknow has its own history with number of tales related to mangoes, which has its own market. MP also has a number mangoes species in Panchmari forest but it is living in its unknownity. Dr. Parsai, a known agriculture scientist, once enhanced the quality of mangoes by grafting, which now seems no where.

There has been no presence of mango in market named after 'Panchmarhi'. Later, administration had set up Agro industries Corporation over thousand acre of land in Babai area for the development of mangoes which also proved to be a futile effort. There is no market where we hear that mangoes have come from 'Babai'. Once this issue was also raised in the assembly. The agriculture Minister of that time, Subhash Yadav, had joked saying that the Corporation itself sold its mangoes at its own stalls. The approach was completely impractical, that's why it met with same fate what earlier claims met. Now, the administration is looking for the privatisation of the mango farm.

There is another news which gives glaring dimension to the identity of Bhopal. Government has planned to develop Bhopal as a Mango hub and also start working on it. the State's first mango hub is being developed in Berasia tehsil, under 67 villages. It is a plan of five years in which 'dashari' and 'chausa' mangoes are being developed, which will also be exported to foreign countries. Its hybrid quality will come to market in the next three years. There have been plans to train farmers, plant one-lakh trees and to tread of grafting mangoes species, and to form the 'Farmer Federation' in next five years. It is hoped that this ambitious plan would not meet the same fate as met by earlier projects at Panchmarhi and Babai.


Source: centralchronicle.com

Philippines: Group initiates study on mango for export market

An environment group has initiated a study on how to sell mangoes from Cagayan Valley to the markets abroad.

Dr. Artemio Antolin, Conservation International project director, said a study on the marketing processes of mango fruits for export is quite “necessary” as mango tree-planting thrives in the upland towns of Baggao and Peñablanca in the region.

Conservation International has supported the government’s reforestation efforts and initiated the planting of at least 40,000 mango trees in Peñablanca and 15,000 in Baggao in cooperation with carmaker Toyota Motors Corp., Department of Environment and Natural Resources and local government units.

The multiagency representatives are looking for other livelihood projects in partnership with big companies and local government units.

“The planting of fruit-bearing trees is a way of giving upland farmers an alternative source of living instead of indulging them in illegal logging activities,” Antolin said.

Fruit-bearing trees will be distributed to upland farmers on an ongoing basis to sustain income-generating projects in their communities, he added.

Antolin said his group has also been promoting stoves that burn rice hulls instead of charcoal or wood to cook food. “This move will divert community members from cutting trees to make charcoal or have wood for cooking,” he added.


Source: businessmirror.com.ph

Publication date: 3/4/2009

Peruvian mango for the world

Mango originating from India, Burma and Indonesia was introduced to Peru about forty years ago, under the type of export varieties such as Hayden, Kent and Tommy Atkins. The natural climatic conditions in Peru are ideal for growing this resource. Also, in recent years techniques have been developed for growing, harvesting and packing, which have enabled our mango (known for its high quality and competitive price) to become available in the most important international markets.

The mango industry oriented to export has been developed in recent years with two major events. First, the creation of “Bandeja Cosechera,” implemented with the support of the Foundation for Development of Agro, which caused significant advances in the quality of raw materials and the reduction of losses in the volume harvested. This tray minimizes the damage caused to the crop because it prevents contact of the fruit with the ground, which could lead to invasion of fungi and insect material. Second, the protocol signed in 1992 with the Department of Agriculture of the United States (USDA / ALPHIS) to implement a hydrothermal treatment for mangos from Peru can enter North American markets. This treatment is designed to disinfect the raw material by using hot water at the lowest temperature of 46.1 º C to 47.8 º C for the space of 5 minutes. After the hydrothermal process, the handles are a sticker that identifies the treatment plant before being packaged in corrugated cardboard boxes with handles up to 24, with a weight of approximately 650 grams.

According to the Peruvian Association of Mango Exporters (PAME), mango export would reach 40,000 metric tons (MT) during the 2008-2009 campaign. Peruvian mango is in the field of export fruit the fifth most profitable agricultural product produced in Peru, with a value of US$ 25, 690,378 (FOB) in 2008. In the 2008-2009 campaign, Peru exported 60% of its production to Europe, 36% to the United States and the remaining 4% to countries like Chile and China.

The market for Peruvian mango exports is expanding and local companies such as Sunshine Export S.A.C. (exported by the FOB value of US$ 9,155,357); Camposol S.A. (exported by the FOB value of US $ 4,071,922) and FLP del Perú (exported by the FOB value of US$ 2,672,645 FOB) are taking advantage of this process.


Source: livinginperu.com



Publication date: 3/4/2009

Japan: $120 each for Tableland mangoes

Tableland mangoes are selling for up to $120 each in Japan, despite the financial crisis.

The region’s $3.5 million export industry – which comes into season from November to March – has held strong and matched a national trend that has seen farm exports rise in recent months.

Diamond Star general manager Bruce Nastasi, consigning his last shipment yesterday, said 50,000 trays had been exported and the fruit was being sold in gift shops and high-end department stores.

It was not being sold in supermarkets and mangoes were going for $40-$120 each.

"Our mangoes have now surpassed the musk melon to become the most prestigious fruit for Japanese fruit baskets," he said, praising industry marketing efforts.

But the news is not all rosy for farmers, with the Federal Government’s decision yesterday to allow Filipino banana imports into the country described as a "kick in the guts" to the region.


Source: cairns.com.au

Publication date: 3/4/2009

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Australia: Scientists create disease-busting super mango

A super-mango – perfect in taste and able to fight diabetes – will be created by scientists at Coopers Plains’ new food sciences complex.

A specially designed “sniffing machine” has been developed to help boffins get the recipe right.

Staff from Innovative Food Technologies at Hamilton will move to the Health and Food Sciences Precinct when it opens next year on Kessels Rd, next to QEII Hospital.

There they will finalise research into the super mangoes which, apart from tasting extraordinarily good, will help fight human diseases.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F;) research scientist Heather Smyth said the sniffing machine would be used to measure the flavours and quality of mango varieties from around the world.

The machine, unlike a human nose, is able to detect and identify the chemical compounds responsible.

She said the aim was to create mangoes with the right mix of flavour and natural chemicals to help prevent metabolic disorders such as Type 2 diabetes.

The chemicals in the mangoes would help people combat the condition, much like the antioxidants in some foods help curb heart disease.

“The machine, which will be sniffing mangoes grown at Mareeba by the DPI&F;, is the most advanced one of its kind in Australia,” she said.

Scientists will also work on a new variety of sweet corn that will help fight degenerative eye conditions, as well as milk and margarines that help lower cholesterol.


Source: southern-star.whereilive.com.au


Publication date: 3/3/2009

Monday, March 2, 2009

USA: Mango Handling Best Practices Webinar Presented By National Mango Board

Importers and Retailers are invited to participate

The National Mango Board (NMB) is focused on training and education in 2009 to improve mango handling practices, enhance mango quality and boost mango movement at retail. As part of this strategy, the NMB will host a Mango Handling Best Practices Webinar on March 17, 2009.

UC-Davis to Host Webinar
This online/teleconference training opportunity will be hosted by the UC-Davis Post Harvest Technology Institute, and presented by the NMB and its post-harvest research team. Topics will include:

o Mango handling basics including the mango’s journey from tree to consumer and key areas for improvement based on the NMB’s supply chain evaluation project;
o Assessment of mango quality by as it relates to maturity/ripeness and eating quality, using tools to measure quality and examining cultivar differences; and
o Best practices for mango handling at the warehouse, distribution center and retail levels by minimizing physical damage, managing temperatures, humidity and maintaining displays.

The NMB is encouraging anyone who handles mangos here in the U.S. to participate in the Webinar, including mango importers, wholesalers and brokers; retail distribution center and quality assurance experts; and retail buyers, category managers and merchandisers.


Webinar Details
The Mango Handling Best Practices Webinar will take place Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST, and will run for 60 to 90 minutes. Space is limited and reservations are required. Interested parties should register by contacting Megan McKenna at mmckenna@mango.org or via phone at 407-629-7318 x105. Dial-in/log-in information will be distributed several days before the event to all who register. The Webinar format allows all participants to phone into a conference line and log into a Web site simultaneously, so they can hear the presenters and view the presentation in real time. The webinar will be presented in English only.


Supply Chain Evaluation Provides Foundation for Training
Over the past 18 months, the NMB has worked with a research team made up of produce experts from the University of Florida and the University of California-Davis, along with several well-known consultants to monitor and evaluate the entire mango supply chain. Members of the team visited five different mango producing countries throughout the year to evaluate mango export handling operations and to conduct mango shipping trails on certain shipments. Team members evaluated those same shipments upon arrival in the U.S. and monitored retail mango displays in Florida and California to understand the quality of mangos being offered to consumers at retail throughout the year. The findings from this extensive research project will be the foundation for the Mango Best Management Practices Manual, which will cover each stage of the mango supply chain and will be published this spring. The portion of the manual covering handling from the importer to the retailer will be covered in this Mango Handling Best Practices Webinar.

###

About National Mango Board

The National Mango Board is a national promotion and research organization, which is supported by assessments from both domestic and imported mangos. The board was designed to drive awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the U.S. Mangos are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, a good source of fiber and an amazing source of tropical flavor.

Mango consumption per capita has quadrupled since 1990 to an estimated 2.2 pounds per year in 2007. Mango import volume for 2007 was 661 million pounds, 3 percent more than 2006 and 15 percent more than 2005. According to Consumer Research commissioned by the National Mango Board, 35% of U.S. customers purchased mangos within the past 6 months. Learn more at www.mango.org

Publication date: 2/26/2009

India: Guard against pest attack on mango crops, farmers told

Horticulture experts here have urged mango growers to take up immediate prophylactic plant protection measures to prevent an attack of the seasonal pest, hoppers, during the flowering season.

Mango trees are being grown on about 5,256 hectares, mostly in Shencottai, Tenkasi, Kadayam, Alangulam, Cheranmahadevi and Kadayanallur blocks, in the district. Out of 18,182 hectares covered under fruit crops in the district, mango alone accounted for 28 to 30 per cent coverage, thanks to the conducive agro-climatic conditions, besides potential resources, according to T.V. Katchi Jamal, Deputy Director of Horticulture, Tirunelveli.

Mr. Jamal, while explaining the nature of attack, said mango hopper, the insect that causes maximum damage during the flowering season in mango, hides itself under crevices in the bark until February and becomes active during the flowering period.

“Both the adults and nymphs damage the crop. They suck the sap from tender shoots and panicles. The panicles wither away and the fruit set is adversely affected. Injury caused by oviposition further aggravates the situation. They release a honey like substance which develops a sooty mould on the leaves and panicles,” Mr. Jamal says.

Demonstration

In a demonstration conducted in a mango orchard near here, S. Raja Mohamed, Horticultural officer, Palayamkottai, said two rounds of acephate 75SP at the rate of 1gm per litre or Phosalone 35 Ec at the rate of 1.5 ml per litre or carbaryl 50 WP at the rate of 2 gm per litre or Phosphomidon 40 Sl at the rate of 2ml per litre of water to be sprayed by using only rocker-type sprayer. The first spray should be carried out at the time of panicle emergence and the second one two weeks after the first spray.

Wettable sulphur at the rate of 2 gm per litre of water may also be sprayed after spraying carbaryl to avoid mite resurgence.

Neem oil at the rate of 5 ml per litre of water can also be mixed with any one of the insecticides for the control of hopper and shoot webber, he said.


Source: thehindu.com

Publication date: 3/2/2009

India: UP mango growers now turning towards litchi

Mango, which had been synonymous with Uttar Pradesh, is losing its popularity against litchi fast arresting attention from the state leethchi growers.

With climatic changes affecting agricultural production in Uttar Pradesh, mango growers, specially those in Saharanpur belt are fast turning towards leethchi production.

This came to the light in a research titled 'Impact of Climate Change on Mango Crop', carried out by Sudhir Mishra, commissioned by a non-government organisation Center for Science and Environment.

The study had revealed that due to rapid climatic changes in last one decade, farmers in Saharanpur belt have started growing leetchi in place of mango.

"Climatic changes have hit the mango production in this belt badly. Last year the entire crop was damaged first due to excessive cold and then by rains. Besides, various diseases hit production resulting in poor export," said Sanjay Arya, who is considered as a big mango producer.

Arya's observations are backed by another mango producer Rajpal Singh who claims that damage to the crop due to sudden climatic changes had become a regular phenomenon.

"Even if we have good production, mango produced in this belt, fail to compete with varities produced in South India which include Totapari, Alphonso and Ratna. Demand of South Indian varities is higher in off shore markets due to quality and taste," Singh said.

As compared to mango, the producers claimed that litchi was more lucrative.

"As Saharanpur is very close to Dehradun, which is a litchi belt, climate here conducive for production of this juicy fruit," they claimed.

In the last eight years, new leetchi gardens have been planted on nearly 300 hectare area in the region.

Singh claimed that if situation remains the same, UP will beat Uttranchal in terms of litchi production and will be ranked second after Bihar, which is the largest producer of this fruit.

A senior scientists of the Central Institute of Sub-tropical Horticulture S Rajan and deputy director of horticulture department Nandmanilal Tripathi said that turning towards litchi production was more of a compulsion for the growers in the region.

"Litchi production is more profitable as compared to mango. Besides, excessive use of pesticides and insecticides has affected the quality and quanity of mango in the area," they said.

In fact senior scientist of CISH too are studying the changes in pattern of mango production in the area.


Source: hindu.com

Publication date: 3/2/2009

Philippines: Local production of mango pushed

Dr. Calixto M. Protacio, a leading plant breeder, has urged government to lead in the massive cultivation of smaller but more productive mango trees to raise yields and improve the country’s share in the expanding export market.

Dr. Protacio made the proposal when he delivered the David H. Murdock/Dole Asia professorial chair lecture on Feb. 25 in a forum organized by the Initiative for Farm Advocacy and Resource Management (IFARM) and Croplife Philippines at the campus of University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Min) here.

He stressed that reforming the mango industry is needed now to maintain the country’s position as the world’s second biggest mango exporter and possibly eat into the lead of Mexico.

Dr. Protacio explained that big mango trees are harder to manage and large plantations require more workers during harvest time.

Scientific advances also make it possible for more small fruit-bearing trees to occupy each hectare of land, he added, and the increase in yield will naturally skyrocket, he argued.

No less than 90 percent of the country’s mango exports are in the form of fresh fruits. The Philippines enjoys a 65 percent market share in Hong Kong and controls 24 percent of the Japan market, he added. The mango expert said South Korea is starting to become a major market like the United States.

A survey conducted by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) in 2007 showed that a total of 184,174 hectares of land are devoted to mango production. There are a total of 8,115,899 fruit-bearing mango trees all over the country.

Output-wise, the Philippines harvests an average of 913,000 metric tons of the fruit, which makes it the eighth biggest player in the global market.

Only six percent of the total output is exported, Dr. Protacio revealed, and the country must increase its share of the export market by raising production and achieve inclusion in the list of countries that conform with the standards of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), which is required if the Philippines wants to penetrate the big European Union (EU) market.

He noted the mango production system in the country is largely "parochial and is thus limited in range and scope."

Dr. Protacio said the Philippines can cash in on smaller mango trees inasmuch as Thailand stopped its mango production from smaller mango trees two decades ago.

The expert stressed that big trees have canopy diameters of up to 20 meters and grow up to a height of buildings four storeys high.

Following current practice of planting a mango tree in a 20m by 20m square, only a total of 25 trees can be accommodated in one hectare, with the yield ranging from 400 kilos to 1,000 kilos per hectare.

Dr. Protacio also doubted the range of average mango yield from six to 10 tons per hectare, saying "it is probably an overestimate."

He stressed that workers risk injury when climbing trees to harvest the fruit and spray the leaves with pesticides and nematicides.


Source: mb.com.ph

Publication date: 3/2/2009

Friday, February 27, 2009

India: Mango arrival to be late in Gujarat this summer

The king of fruits might arrive a tad late this summer in Gujarat. According to experts, the arrival of mango in the state could be as late as 15-20 days due to irregular winter which seems to have damaged the flowering.

As per the Junagadh Agriculture University, the winter had been erratic this year leaving damaged flowers of mango, especially of the 'Kesar' variety in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. "Weather condition during winter this year was not favourable for mango in Gujarat. Right in the middle of flowering time, the climate became erratic resulting in lot of damage. As a result mango arrival will be quite late in the market this summer", said BK Kikani, vice chancellor, Junagadh Agriculture University.

Gujarat has approximately three lakh hectares area under mango cultivation. Areas like Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Valsad, Navsari, Sasan and Talala Gir, Visavadar, Savarkundala and Kutch have gained prominence for mango cultivation in the state. Last year about 10 lakh boxes, with each box containing 10 kg, arrived in the Talala Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) which is the main market for Kesar variety of mango in India.

Talking about the variety, Harsukhbhai Zarsaniya, secretary of Talala APMC said, "Kesar mangos arrival will start from May 10-15 this year. Generally it starts from last week of March every year. However, flowering has been late on mango. In normal condition flowers blossom between end of January and middle of February. But this year it was late as winter was not in its normal flow."

"It is too early to predict about production of mango, but yes arrival this season will be definitely late. Weather should also get hotter now. Otherwise it will also affect prices as bad weather can damage the products," said Batuksinh Jadeja of Ashapura Farm & Nursery from Kutch.


Source: business-standard.com

Publication date: 2/27/2009

India: Weather plays spoilsport with Bengal mango

Erratic weather in this belt has hit hard the flowering of mango trees in Malda district, famous for the king of fruits. “Flowers have been seen in only 20% of trees and the development could hit hard the economy of the district,” district’s mango development officer Samarendra Nath Khanda said.

Such low flowering in an ‘on year’ has been unheard of in recent times. Mango, an important aspect of Malda’s economy, is produced in abundance every alternate year. Such a year is called an ‘on year’ while the less producing one is an ‘off year’.

Mr Khanda said the low flowering could be attributed to absence of cold conditions and fog. Moreover, the absence of west wind could also have hit the production.

“Only new trees have flowered and there is no chance of any more flowering,” he said. The only silver lining is that the lakshmanbhog variety has started showing flowers. Every part of the district has been affected and the worst hit areas are Ratua, Manikchak, Chanchal and, Englishbazar.

Despite being an off year, last year’s production was a record 1.9 lakh tonnes which has nearly touched the average yield of an on year — 2 lakh tonne. About 2.6 lakh people are directly and indirectly involved with the production of mango in the district, where orchards can be found on 26,000 hectare of land.

“A number of varieties of mangoes — aswini, himsagar, langra, fazli, gopalbhog — are found in Malda district. Its earning from export, mainly to Bangladesh, is about Rs 120 crore,” Mr Khanda said.

Token exports were also being made to countries of Europe and Middle East.


Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com