Indian mango grower and mango farmers hope to get good output in 2017

South Korea imported mangoes worth USD48 million in 2016 mainly from Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Australia, Peru and the United States.

India’s entry into the South Korean market would boost competition, as mango originating from India has been popular in the Middle East, the Far East, the United States and Europe.

In an advisory dated March 14, 2017 issued to its members, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) said, "South Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) has finally agreed importation of Indian mangoes into South Korea after Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) in specified temperature condition. The export would be allowed for the produce sourced from the registered farmers under Apeda Horti net system and fresh requirement at the designated facilities. So, interested exporters may book their slots for processing of mangoes for export to South Korea."

Dheeraj Patel, Owner of Ahmedabad-based V B International, a mango trader and exporter, said, "We have started booking orders from overseas for delivery few days later, as export-quality mango is yet to arrive in the market here. We are continuously enquiring with suppliers who are just buying time. By now, however, we could have dispatched some consignments in previous years." The company exports the fruit to Italy among other countries.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Australian Government, has accepted the Operational Work Plan (OWP) for export of irradiated mangoes from India to Australia as another post-harvest quarantine mitigation measure. Prima facie, Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) has permitted OWP for facilities approved by Apeda.

Meanwhile, even leading exporters such as Desai Fruits, a unit of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corp. Ltd, have dispatched initial consignments this season to mark India’s presence in the export markets. Others, like Mohammad Ashfaq and Co., a Lucknow–based mango exporter, are yet to start shipment due to non-availability of good quality mango this season.

S Insram Ali, President, mango Grower Association of India, said, "So, overall mango output this year is likely to remain lower than the previous year. However, the entire picture would be clear in a couple of weeks."

Prasad Jadhav, Owner, Ratnagiri Mango, said, "We were very confident of a recovery in mango output this year at the beginning of the season following normal rainfalls in the preceding monsoon season. But, the cold wave damaged flowers buds. This means, mango flowers were damaged at flowering stage itself. Apart from that, many varieties from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are sold as 'Alphonso' which diluted significance of the leading mango brand. So, overall output of mango is estimated to decline this year."