The Hindu Business Line : APEDA keen to develop residue monitoring plan for mango

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APEDA keen to develop residue monitoring plan for mango

For standardising quality to facilitate exports

Focus on exports
APEDA is waiting for the Government’s green signal to establish Mango Residue Level
It is vital to monitor residue level as certain chemicals are banned in some countries.

Gargi Shah

Mumbai, July 5 After a historic beginning of Indian mango exports to the US, the season has come to an end leaving much room for work.

If exports of mangoes are to be looked as a serious commercial venture, then attention right from the farm level (inputs) is pertinent, said Mr Anil Jain, Managing Director of Jain Irrigation.

There is a lot of demand for natural food products. This calls for monitoring of pesticides and insecticides inputs at the farm level, he said.

Certain chemicals are banned in some parts so one has to be cautious that the farmer does not use such prohibited chemicals, he added.

This information has not slipped the minds of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

We want to develop a Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) for mango so that the quality can be standardised, said Mr R.K. Mondal, Regional Manager of APEDA (Mumbai).

The RMP monitors the chemical residue in the fruit and lesser the pesticide and insecticide residue the better the quality of the fruit.

There are a handful of labs that conduct such monitoring and, hence, there is no effective measure to check residue, said Mr Jain.

However, APEDA is waiting for the Government’s green signal to establish the mango residue level, said Mr Mondal.

Lack of infrastructure

Irradiation is a precondition to mangoes being exported to the US. However, the irradiation is only done at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai. There is no provision for infrastructure in the country while mango varieties are grown all over the country, said Mr Jain.

Another important infrastructure is a ‘mango pack house’ where mangoes are packed and graded. Currently, there are only eight such packing houses are accredited by the USDA.

We hope to have around 10-15 more pack houses which require an investment of Rs 2 crore each, said Mr Modal, adding that the Government is planning to subsidise them.

Packing and handling of the fruit is crucial to its quality when it is consumed by the end-consumer. If the fruit is not packed and handled scientifically it can weigh on the quality.

Initial Euphoria

As a result of the initial euphoria, pricing of the Indian mangoes were quoting at thrice the price of the Mexican mangoes, it will have to compete with the Mexican brand eventually.

Indian mangoes are sold at $35 per box (3.2 kg) while Mexican mangoes are sold at $9 per box in the US markets.

Since this time the exports began toward the end of the Alphonso season the country has mainly exported Kesar followed by Alphonso. The main component of the price was airfreight of around $9-10.

Till date over 10 exporters contracted and sold around 55,000 boxes (175 tonnes) of Indian mangoes to the US purchasers. Another 10,000 boxes are expected be exported with which the season for this year will end.

Next Destination

After having made a breakthrough in the US markets after a long ban of 18-odd years, Indian mangoes may look for newer markets.

We want to develop and enter the markets of Australia, New Zealand and China, said Mr Mondal.

The Indian government can play a vital role in promoting mango as a national fruit like the New Zealand government promotes Kiwi, said Mr Jain.