by Archana Aroor, FnBNews
New export markets such as Mauritius are opening their doors to India allowing imports of mangoes for the first time. Maharashtra, which is the hub for the king of mangoes – Alphonso – is now gearing up to reach these new markets with great zeal.
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.
According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the exporters are still waiting for the process to begin as this new market has opened 15 days ago, this year. The trade is likely to begin based on the agreement signed on March 11, 2015, between India and the Republic of Mauritius effective from April 1 to August 31 of every year.
The mangoes will be exported through the apex body under two treatment options – Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) at 47 degree celsius in eight minutes and Hot Water Treatment (HWT) at 48 degree celsius in 60 minutes.
Meanwhile, on March 24, 2015, Maharashtra that accounts for the production of five lakh tonne of mangoes every year, had already exported alphonso mangoes to the UK and Germany following the lifting of EU ban.
Dr Sudhanshu, deputy-general manager, regional head, Western region, APEDA, states, “Significant improvements were noted when a team of delegates from EU visited VHT protocol facility at Navi Mumbai in September 2014, to inspect pack houses and verify improvement in plant health controls and certification system and the first consignment of shipment of mangoes to EU was possible this year.”
Sudhanshu mentioned that the EU ban, which was imposed on May 1, 2014, was due to presence of “non-European fruitflies” in the Indian mangoes, “however, post the ban, we are able to ship around 3 tonne per day of alphonso mangoes to the said countries.”
The first Indian mangoes reached Europe after Kay Bee Exports, one of India’s leading fresh fruits and vegetable exporters, shipped a consignment of alphonso mangoes to the UK using VHT.
Prakash Khakhar, managing director, Kay Bee exports, observes, “The Indian government had recommended hot water treatment prior to export of mangoes. Along with Hot Water Treatment, APEDA proposed the adoption of Vapour Heat Treatment on the same lines as export for Japan to ensure elimination of fruitfly. This was accepted by India’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO). This paved way for the first export of mangoes to the UK by Kay Bee Exports.
Khakhar informed that mango varieties such as alphonso and kesar, could only be air-freighted. Therefore, the unit price of the mango was significantly higher than other sea-freighted varieties and added that the company was a market leader not only in terms of volume, but also in terms of quality of mangoes.
“India will be successfully able to offer pest-free fresh produce to importing countries around the world. He was also grateful to DEFRA, UK, for helping with capacity building and assisting the exporter’s association with valuable information. Kay Bee is gearing up for a strong mango campaign in the coming months with exports planned to various countries in Europe, USA, the Middle- East and southeast Asia,” states Khakhar.
Meanwhile, Trimbak Pathrikar, an expert committee member, Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MACCIA), informed that another mango variety called Kesar was all set to be shipped to the United States within a couple of months.
Source: FnBNews