The Hindu Business Line : Mango exports to UAE rising

EXPORT of Indian mangoes to the UAE has registered a 30 per cent jump in the last three years with improved storage and packaging methods and promotional campaigns resulting in positive growth figures, according to a senior official of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Mr Upendra Vats, Assistant General Manager, APEDA, who was in the UAE recently in connection with an Indian Mango Festival organised by APEDA , told Business Line that the UAE was now a prime market for Indian mango exports and around 14,000 tonnes were exported in 2002-2003. "The figure for the year ending March 2004 is expected to be higher in view of the promotional campaigns held last summer in the UAE and Qatar," he said.

The festival had on display varieties from North India such as Langda, Dusseheri as well as Badami and Neelam from the South. "These varieties arrive later in the mango season and we are able to export good quantities to meet their requirements," he said.

Mr Vats said identification of agri-expo zones in each of the mango-growing belts and focus on improving production and storage facilities had boosted the overall exports in the past few years. "The quality and shelf life of mangoes has improved. We also have better co-ordination for air freight and sea freight and the cold storage facilities at Mumbai have been upgraded," he said. There were also good central processing facilities in Lucknow and Sarhanpur, he added.

India's premier Alphonso variety, with a peak season falling in May, has a good run in the UAE and other Gulf markets due to its rich taste and absence of competition from other countries. However, in the latter part of the season, starting from late June, Indian mangoes have to compete with the Pakistani varieties, which are not comparable in quality and freshness, but find large number of buyers because of the low prices.

The response to the mango festival, which included a tasting campaign and buyer-seller meet was good, Mr Vats added. Processed products such as mango pulp, chutneys and mango juice also are prime products in the export market, he said.

APEDA was also looking to expand the market for litchis in the Gulf region, while other seasonal fruits such as pomegranates and chikoos are also being targeted for increased exports, he added.

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