The Hindu Business Line : Mango Mahotsava kicks off

Kolkata June 15 The three-day Mango Mahotsava 2007 festival, organised jointly by the Agri-horticultural Society of India (AHSI), Kolkata, Department of Food Processing Industries & Horticulture, Government of West Bengal and Indian Chamber of Commerce, took off on Friday with a competition section for mango growers from the best orchards across the country.

There was also a separate competition for processed food industries, which exhibited mango-based products like pickles, jams, sauces, chutneys and squash varieties. Briefing newspersons, Mr B.D. Bose, President of AHSI, said 97 first prizes and 97 second prizes in both categories were awarded.

He said some of the new items, which came up in the competitive section, were green mango jams, continental sauce and mixed mango pickles. Some 125 mango varieties from many growing States like Maharashtra (Alphonsos from Ratnagiri) and the famous Malda varieties of Bengal like Krishnabhog were on display at the different stalls.

There were also Mango Table displays and arrangements of special mango-based confectionery items from the hotel industry besides table displays by ladies at the indoor halls of AHSI. Commercial sale of best varieties of mangoes from across the country and mango products by companies in the food-processing sector under one roof was also thrown open.

Mr Sujit Chakravorti, Chairman, Event Management Sub-committee of AHSI, said the discussions among scientists and experts at the seminar on `qualitative improvements in Indian mango varieties' on Saturday would focus on orchard management, preservation & processing, marketing strategies, packaging.

According to Mr S.K. Bangur, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce, West Bengal was one of the most important states for mango in eastern India. He said a number of development programmes have been initiated in the Mango Agri Export Zone in the State for pre and post-harvest management, new plantations of high yielding varieties, rejuvenation of old orchards, growers' training and demonstration for export quality production.

More Stories on : Events | Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | West Bengal

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