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
Tuesday, June 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
“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
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
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
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
“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
“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
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
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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