INDIA: Kerala pioneer eyes new horizons for jackfruit industry

A new food processing company in Kerala proposes to market innovative products, the success of which could well place the largely neglected jackfruit in the focus of attention of bigger players in the state’s food processing industry.

PHILIPPINES: Inspection fee kills mango exports

Mango producers in the island province of Guimaras are not willing to shell out P2 million (USD 45,000) for an export inspection fee, and will just concentrate their efforts on supplying the domestic markets that happens to be more profitable.

BANGLADESH: Bumper mango production predicted

According to official sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension, and the Horticulture Centres of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), over 85 percent mango trees have bloomed during this season on an average.

BANGLADESH: Rangpur farmers expect bumper litchi production

The farmers of Rangpur division are much delighted in witnessing the blooming litchi trees, predicting a bumper yield of the fleshy and juicy fruit this year.

AUSTRALIA: Local markets ensure survival of cyclone-damaged farms

Bungundarra farmer David Groves says his family’s business, near Yeppoon, was badly damaged by the cyclone which hit the central Queensland coast in February. But the Yeppoon markets are helping growers to maintain an income.

AUSTRALIA: New South Wales remains free of two major banana diseases

New South Wales remains free of Banana Freckle and Panama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) which have rocked the banana industries in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

INDIA: Guava acreage jumps to 20,292 ha

The State Government’s Horticulture Department which is implementing a promotion scheme for the fruit had led to quantum jump in the area under guava cultivation in Chhattisgarh.

MALAYSIA: Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry aims to market MD2 pineapple variety to more countries

Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the pineapple variety had managed to penetrate international market with the latest in South Korea.

AUSTRALIA: Panama disease puts focus on banana imports

Long-term implications from the detection of Panama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) could re-open the discussion on banana imports.

PHILIPPINES: Dry spell hits around 5% of banana production

A Philippine banana industry leader says climate change is taking its toll on farmers this year, with production expectations somewhat eroded by the lack of rain in the Southeast Asian country.

CHINA: Hainan mango growers look to new markets

Every April, mangoes from the Chinese island province of Hainan hit the shelves in major cities across the country. With this year’s season fast approaching, an overall scarcity of the popular tropical fruit, and market opportunities in Russia, Japan and South Korea.

INDIA: Gov’t working to sequence mango genome

A number of government institutions are involved in the genome sequencing of several crops including fruits and vegetables, said minister of state for science & technology and earth sciences Y.S. Chowdhary.

INDIA: Major lychee crop damaged in late rains

Unseasonal rains and hail storm had a huge negative impact on the lychee fruit crop, reducing yields by 20-25%.

COSTA RICA: Avocado prices will soar due to import bans

Costa Rica is now expected to experience an avocado shortage after that country banned imports of the fruit from several major international suppliers, including the United States.

NEW ZEALAND: Select avocado growers make good returns

Avocado growers who use Seeka Kiwifruit Industries as their packer have received much higher prices for their exports than others in the industry, the company says.

COLOMBIA: Rot affects avocado in coastal area

The General Management of the Colombian Agricultural Institute, ICA, ordered the implementation of measures to mitigate the radical rot that is affecting avocado in several municipalities in the region of Montes de Maria.

MAURITIUS: Doors open for Indian mangoes

In wake of last year’s European Union ban on Indian mangoes due to presence of fruitflies in the fruit that resulted in huge losses to exporters, which was lifted last month, the opening up of new markets builds hopes for increased trade this year.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Exports chief plays down impact from US agro ban

The head of Dominican Republic’s Exports and Investment Center (CEI-RD) on Thursday announced government support for producers affected by the US ban on several Dominican agro products, listed as hosts of the fruit fly.

MEXICO: Big mango crop forecast

About 36 million boxes of Mexican mangoes are expected to be imported in the second quarter, 10% more than in the second quarter of 2014.

JAMAICA: Gov’t in big banana export push

The Government says it will be putting $250 million into a project aimed at revitalising banana production for the export market.

USA: Next generation GMOs include pink pineapples

Cancer-fighting pink pineapples, heart-healthy purple tomatoes and less fatty vegetable oils may someday be on U.S. grocery shelves alongside more traditional products.

NEW ZEALAND: Banana prices hit 30-year high

The latest food price index from Statistics New Zealand showed bananas at a record high of $3.05 per kg.

MOZAMBIQUE: Banana production expands to Nampula province

According to Mozambican daily newspaper Notícias the local government plans to provide the Jacarandá Agrícola agricultural company with land of over 6,000 hectares in Mirrote (Namiroa) to allow the expansion of banana cultivation.