India has expanded its footprint of mango exports to newer countries this season, despite the logistical challenges posed by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, according to detailed information shared by the commerce ministry.
In a major initiative, which will boost mango export potential from the eastern region especially to Middle-east countries, a consignment of Geographical Identification (GI) certified Fazil mango variety sourced from Malda district of West Bengal was exported on Saturday to Bahrain.
The consignment of Fazil mango was exported by APEDA registered DM enterprises, Kolkata and imported by Al Jazira group, Bahrain.
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APEDA, an export promotion organisation under the commerce ministry, has been initiating measures to boost mango exports from non-traditional regions and states. It has been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports.
This shipment to Bahrain comes a few days after APEDA organized a mango promotion programme at Doha, Qatar where nine varieties of mangoes including GI certified from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were displayed at the stores of importer Family Food Centre.
The nine varieties which were exported include GI certified Khirsapati (Malda, West Bengal), Lakkhanbhog (Malda, West Bengal), Fazli (Malda, West Bengal), Dusshheri (Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh) and Amrapali and Chausa (Malda, West Bengal) and Langda (Nadiya, West Bengal).
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In June, this year, a week-long Indian mango promotion programme was organised in Bahrain where 16 varieties of the fruit including three GI certified Khirsapati & Lakshmanbhog (West Bengal), Zardalu (Bihar) were displayed.
The varieties of mangoes were sold through 13 stores of the group in Bahrain. The mangoes were sourced from farmers in Bengal and Bihar by APEDA registered exporters.
For the first time in this season, India has shipped a consignment of 2.5 metric tonnes of GI certified Banganapalli and other variety of Survarnarekha mangoes sourced from farmers in Krishna and Chittor districts of Andhra Pradesh recently.
APEDA has also been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports. It recently organised mango festival at Berlin in Germany.
Mango in India is also referred to as ‘king of fruits’ and referred to as Kalpavriksha (wish granting tree) in ancient scriptures. While most of the states in India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have a major share in total production of the fruit. Alphonso, Kesar, Totapuri and Banganpalli are leading export varieties from India. Mango exports take place primarily in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp, and mango slice.
