The Hindu Business Line : Indian mango on way to US markets

Tasty trade
The mangoes cost $20 for 3.5 kg. The landed cost in the US markets, however, will be $35 per 3.5 kg.
India is set to export a maximum of 8,000-10,000 tonnes of mangoes to the US.

ENTICING: The US Ambassador to India, Mr David C. Mulford, relishing Indian mango in the picture put out by the US embassy. The photograph was released on the eve of a consignment of Indian mangoes leaving for the US from Mumbai.

Mumbai April 26 The first consignment of 150 boxes of Alphonso and Kesar mangoes from India to the US is scheduled to reach New York on Friday. The mangoes are from the orchards of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The mangoes cost $20 for 3.5 kg. The landed cost in the US markets, however, will be $35 per 3.5 kg, said Mr Pankaj Khandelwal, Chief Executive Officer of Desai Fruits and Vegetables, exporters for the current shipment. The freight cost works out to $12 per box, he said.

India, the largest producer of mango with a production of 14-16 million tonnes a year, is set to export a maximum of 8,000-10,000 tonnes of mangoes to the US, said Mr K.S. Money, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products' Export Development Authority.

Prospective market

India exports to Europe and West Asia. Japan is expected to be another prospective market. However, the process of vapour heat treatment would be required in case of Japan.

The US consumes about 2.5 lakh tonnes of mangoes. Mexico and Central American countries are the leading exporters of mangoes to the US.

"Bringing Indian mangoes to the US is just one step in increasing agricultural trade between the US and India," said Mr David C. Mulford, US Ambassador to India.

The US does not impose any duty on mangoes imported from India.

Irradiation of the mangoes for phyto-sanitary clearance was done at the Lasalgaon facility, Maharashtra. It was developed by the US Department of Agriculture in tandem with Indian Ministries of Commerce and Agriculture. The Lasalgaon facility clears the mangoes for the US market. The facility, which is in existence for over five years, has been irradiating potatoes and onions.

Final clearance

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) did the irradiation. Additional resources in the facility were added for mangoes' irradiation, said Dr Shrikumar Banerjee, Director of BARC.

The US Animal and Plant Health Inspection service issued the final clearance for the consignment.

Pakistan mangoes that are 10-15 per cent cheaper than Indian mangoes could prove to be a competition to Indian exports to the US, said Mr Prakash Khakhar, Proprietor of KAY BEE Exports.

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