CAB CALLING
January-March 2006
Prospects for Export of Indian
Fresh Alphonso Mangoes
R.N. Hegde*
India has emerged as the largest producer of fruits
in the world, with an annual production of 57.60
million tonnes over an area of 5.2 million
hectares, as against world production of 300
million tonnes. India produces around 50% of
the worlds mango, 8% of the worlds banana
and pineapple, 3% of the worlds citrus and
apple. However, her share in global exports is
less than 1%. In India, less than 2% of the fruits
produced are processed, while comparable figures
for Brazil are 70%, USA 60%, Malaysia 40%
and Thailand 30%. Brazil is the world leader in
processed products like citrus and pineapple juice
concentrates.
Mango Production and Export
Mango, a native fruit of India, is now grown in
over 87 countries. India is the largest producer
of mango, with an annual production of about
10 million tonnes. More than 1000 varieties are
grown in India, of which only 20 are commercially
cultivated.
Even though India is the largest producer of the
choicest varieties of mango, the country is not a
major player in the export market for either fresh
mango or processed mango products. Out of 10
million tonnes, around 40,000 tonnes of mango
is exported as fresh fruit, accounting for about
0.4% of production.
Other major producers of mango are China,
Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan,
Philippines, Nigeria, Brazil, Peru, Australia,
South Africa, Malaysia and Venezuela.
Interesting facts about world mango trade
While Indias major mango marketing season is April to July,
production is round the year in Brazil, Columbia, Kenya and
Venezuela.
The season is also quite long in Burkino Faso, Costa Rica,
Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.
* General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Maharashtra Regional Office, Pune.
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Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa
and U.S.A. have emerged as competitors of India in the international
market. However, these countries do not enjoy the comparative
advantage of choicest Indian varieties like Alphonso.
India and Philippines were major producers of mango during the
70s, but our share is gradually decreasing due to other countries like
Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, South Africa, Kenya, Israel and Australia
having taken up mango cultivation on a large scale and built up
strong base for exports. Very big mango orchards of a single variety
ranging from 2000 to 10000 hectares have come up in those countries,
keeping an eye on the export market requirement of bulk supply of
uniform quality.
Many African and Latin American countries have become major
suppliers to the European market. Indias share in the European
market is only 2.5%.
Philippines is the largest supplier to Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Philippines retains 70% of Japanese market, having invested heavily
in vapour heat treatment technology to ensure that export variety,
viz. the Manila Super, could be certified as fruit-fly free by Japanese
quarantine inspectors.
Australia also exports its Kensington Pride variety to Japan after
winning Japanese health authorities approval of its vapour heat
treatment programme.
Mexico supplies mangoes to the US market, having a share of 85%
of US imports of mango. Varieties include Haden, Kent, Tommy,
Atkins, Irwin, Sensation, Van Dick and Palmar.
Pakistan, which produces hardly one million tonnes of mango, exports
about 40000 tonnes annually, accounting for 4% of its production.
Higher subsidies, low freight charges, proximity to the Gulf have
given Pakistans Rataul Mango a permanent place on the eating table
in Dubai.
Export of fresh mangoes from India
Alphonso, Kesar, Banganapalli, Totapuri and Chausa are the varieties in
great demand abroad. The export of fresh mangoes has been showing an
increasing trend, with earnings from export of fresh mangoes in 2000-01
being Rs.68.61 crore, and from processed mango products (mainly pulp,
juice, slice in brine, pickles and jams) Rs.263.83 crore. Major export
destinations for our mangoes are Gulf countries (51%), Bangladesh (33%),
European Union (10%). Among the Indian varieties, Alphonso is mostliked abroad.
Special features of Alphonso mango
Alphonso is the leading commercial variety of Maharashtra and Goa, and
one of the excellent varieties of the country. The fruit is medium in size,
January-March 2006
ovate, oblique in shape and apricot yellow in
colour. Slightly acidic, unique flavour, long
shelf life to withstand transport and early
bearing, have enhanced its competitiveness
over other varieties. However, it is susceptible
to a physiological disorder called spongy
tissue.
The North American and European Markets
are primarily for varieties of Haden and
Tommy Atkins, which are not grown in India.
Though Alphonso has excellent taste, the size
and colour do not match varieties of Israel
and Latin American countries.
Why our Alphonso mango does not
go to US and Japan ?
The dreaded fruit-fly infestation has led to a
ban of Indian mangoes to the US and Japanese
markets. A pest of the ripening mango fruits,
it is almost of the size of the common housefly. The fly lays eggs under the rind of the
fruit when it is about to ripen. Within a few
days, the eggs hatch and young white maggot
or worms start feeding deep into the soft pulp.
The affected fruits drop to the ground and
maggot pupate in the soil, and emerge as flies
after a week or ten days. So, in generation
after generation, these flies persist in the
orchard. Fruit-fly control consists of preventive
measures only.
Fruit-fly infestation has wreaked havoc in
California in the USA, causing billions of
dollars in damage to fruit farmers. The
outbreak in California resulted in a federal
quarantine on most California fruits, higher
prices for fruits and massive increase in
pesticides use. The ban is understandable,
when one considers the fruit-fly client list. It
attacks over 230 different fruits; including
apples, avocados, bananas, cucumbers,
grapes, lemons, peaches and plums.
Efforts made by India to export
mangoes to US and Japan
Japan had placed an embargo on the import
of mangoes from India till Vapour Heat
Treatment (VHT) facilities are in place. The
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January-March 2006
different farmers for export. This will also lead to uniform quality.
Use of right variety and disease-free planting material should be the
main concern. Best hygiene should be maintained in the orchard.
Use of fertilisers and pesticides should be minimum so that residue
problems do not occur later. Integrated disease and pest management
should be followed.
required facilities are now installed at VashiMumbai so export to Japan can commence.
The related infrastructure pertaining to
washing, drying, pallet, pre-cooling and cold
storage facilities have been sponsored by the
Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing
Board. Agricultural & Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA), New Delhi, is trying for market
access in the U.S. for sell our Alphonso
mangoes. It is understood that the U.S.
authorities want the fruit-fly inside the mango
to be sterilised, to prevent multiplication and
not killed. This can be done using irradiation,
and India has such a facility. India needs to
strengthen its quarantine and pest risk analysis
process so that our mangoes are accepted by
U.S., Japan and China.
Issues to be tackled to increase
export of Alphonso Mangoes
Production related : India has been
endowed with a wide range of agroclimatic conditions, good soil, water
and plenty of sunlight. What is required
is new technologies through which
farmers can produce mangoes
acceptable in the international market.
Every operation in the farm-planting,
fertilizer application, irrigation, plantprotection, pre -harvesting, spraying and
harvesting-should be as per the
recommendations of the expert so that
phyto-sanitary certificate could be
obtained easily. This will enable getting
big volume by pooling the produce of
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On farm storage : In a tropical country like India, tremendous
amount of quality deterioration takes place immediately after
harvesting due to lack of on-farm storage facilities. Various sizes of
low cost environment friendly cool chambers using locally available
materials like brick, sand, bamboo, etc. should be constructed.
Logistics Management : Essential elements of business logistics
are movement and storage. Inadequate cold-chain facilities,
refrigerated warehouse capacity constraints, insufficient air cargo
space, improper handling of perishable cargo in storage and transit
and exorbitant freight rates are adversely affecting our export
performance.
Market intelligence on mango : Collecting global market
information, price trends, and participation in food fairs and festivals
in important cities in the US and Japan could be thought of. Since
Europeans had tasted our Alphonso mangoes, they do not insist on
such stringent health safety certificates for our mangoes, unlike Japan
and US. But, people in the U.S. do not know the best qualities of
our Alphonso variety, hence, special efforts are needed to promote
them in North America and Japan.
Capacity building of Mango growers : The global information
on Alphonso mango should reach the farmers and hence, training of
these growers assumes great importance. They should know quality
standards of mango and packaging standards of importing countries.
Agri-Export Zone for Alphonso : The area under Alphonso mango
has been increasing very fast in recent years due to implementation
of Employment Guarantee Scheme of the Government of Maharashtra.
MAHAMANGO, a growers cooperative in Sindhudurg district has
one pre-cooling and cold storage unit for Alphonso mango. AgriExport infrastructure could be strengthened in mango growing regions.
Conclusion
Quality parameters of fresh fruit are decided on the basis of appearance
factor (i.e. size, shape, pattern, gloss, colour and physical defects),
Kinesthetic factor (feel and sense) and sensory measurements (subjective
methods).
Adequate infrastructure, efficient logistic management, human resources
development and multidisciplinary research are essential to enhance quality
of export of fresh horticulture produce. Only integrated and concerted
efforts of growers, suppliers, shippers, transporters and exporters can bring
about satisfactory results.
