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
Friday, April 3, 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
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
"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
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