The Hindu Business Line : Mango fest in Kolkata from June 30 to July 3

THE Department of Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, Government of West Bengal, in association with the Agri-Horticultural Society of India and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, is organising `Mango Mahotsava 2005' at the Agri-Horticultural Society of India premises here between June 30 and July 3.

Stating this at a news conference at Writers' Buildings on Tuesday, Mr Sailen Sarkar, West Bengal's Minister for Food Processing Industries and Horticulture, said the idea behind the initiative was to showcase and create awareness about the mango varieties in West Bengal and other States.

Mango Mahotsava 2005 will also help explore processing opportunities and provide a boost to export possibilities of both fresh and processed mangoes.

Mr Sarkar said India was the largest producer of mangoes in the world even as the Malda and Murshidabad districts of West Bengal produce several table and processable varieties of the fruit.

Around 65,000 hectares of land is covered under mango production in West Bengal. The State produces 5,00,000 tonnes of mangoes per annum. Malda and Murshidbad districts account for around 50 per cent of the total production in the State.

The West Bengal Government recently organised a mango show in Malda and participated in a mango promotion campaign in Singapore. A total of 2.3 tonnes of mangoes were ferried to Singapore for this.

Mango Mahotsava 2005 will include seminars, exhibition, competitions and buyer-seller meets.

The competition is open to all growers, nurseries, government institutions and agricultural universities in the country. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa have been invited to participate in the mahotsava.

According to Mr S.S. Ahuja, Principal Secretary in the Department of Food Processing and Horticulture, Government of West Bengal, the mango festival facilitates an integrated approach to quality mango production and marketing with the ultimate objective of ensuring remunerative returns to the farmers.

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