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T.E. Raja Simhan

ONLY BULK

Chennai May 15 Deepa wanted to gift mangoes to her friend in California, US. However, to her disappointment, she realised that the US, which has lifted a ban on Indian mangoes, is yet to allow the entry of mangoes from India as gift. The US recently lifted a 17-year-old ban on Indian mangoes with the first shipment of 150 tonnes of mangoes going from Mumbai to Boston. At present, mangoes can be sent to the US only as commercial shipments, in bulk. Individuals cannot send the fruit in gift packs.

According to one source, people would need to wait another year to be able to gift Indian mangoes to loved ones in the US. Logistics service providers such as DHL deliver mangoes as gifts to people in 81 countries, except the US, Australia and Japan.

Talks are on between logistics companies and officials in India and the US. "We hope to get permission soon. However, we will be able to send mangoes as gifts only next year as the season will be over by the time the permission is granted," according to a DHL official.

Low exports

India is the world's largest producer of mango with 12 million tonnes harvested every year, but it accounts for less than 1 per cent of the global mango trade. The US is dependent on imports from Mexico and South America, according to the US-India Business Council.

The US mango market is about 250,000 tonnes, valued at $156 million a year. In contrast, in 2005-06, India totally exported 58,000 tonnes of mangoes to Asian and European countries. "The opening of mango trade is highly emblematic of a push by both the US and India to deepen two-way trade from $30 billion to $60 billion over the next two years," the council said.

US regulations

According to the Web site of the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Indian mangoes must be treated with specified doses of irradiation at an APHIS-certified facility. Each shipment must be accompanied by a `phytosanitary' certificate issued by the national plant protection organisation of India with additional declarations that certify treatment and inspection, and identify the orchards in which they were grown. The fruit will also be subject to inspection at the port of first arrival.

DHL mango delivery

DHL offers to deliver gifts of `ripe-in-time' Alphonso mangoes to international clients, friends and relatives. It selects the mangoes, ships them and manages the documentation.

To send a dozen Alphonso mangoes to the UK, it costs Rs 3,287 for DHL account holders and Rs 3,644 for non-DHL account holders, said a company official.

More Stories on : Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Exports & Imports | Supply Chain Management

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