The Hindu Business Line : Long live the King?

Mango consumption in the US is about 250,000 tonnes. Most of that is currently served by Mexico and South America, with maybe a little in Florida,” says Ron Somers, president of the US-India Business Council (UIBC), who focuses attention on India, which produces 56 per cent of the world’s mangoes. But out of 14 million tonnes with about 1,000 cultivars, the US imports about 62,000 tonnes.

“The US market for India is a huge one, for Pakistan too. The scope is enormous, and the American market is nascent. Imagine what it could be if US consumers really got a taste for the Indian mango,” Somers added.

On its website Knowledge Wharton, the Wharton School of Management carried a feature on the emerging opportunities for Indian mangoes “About 1,000 cultivars or varieties of mango exist, of which some 20 are considered commercially significant,” it observed, based on the feedback from APEDA, National Horticulture Board. But neither the Wharton academics nor the UIBC chief is likely to know what ‘Kahitur’ is all about. It is the best of all mango cultivars, grown only in the mango orchards of the Nawab of Murshidabad in West Bengal. Even Alfonso is no match for Kahitur, which needs to be stocked carefully using cotton to preserve its quality.

With the declining fortunes of the Nawab family that ruled Bengal (which included Bihar and Orissa, apart from the whole of undivided Bengal, until June 23, 1757, when the Union Jack was unfurled on Indian soil), Kahitur is now an endangered species.

Nawab Murshidkuli Khan began the era of Mangifera Indica in 1704. The king of fruits received royal patronage as newer and newer strains were developed. Nababpasand, Begumpasand, Nisarpasand, Dilpasand, Ranipasand, Rani, Jafrani, Begambahar, Manpasand and many choicest and tastiest varieties were born.

Today, however, excessive use of pesticides has affected the best of mango cultivars in not only Murshidabad, but also the adjoining districts such as Nadia and Birbhum. Malda is the largest producer of mangoes but has very few high-quality fruits in contrast to Murshidabad, which lies on the opposite bank of the River Ganga that separates the two districts. Pesticides repel bees, especially honeybees, the pollinating agent.

Mango-farmers have been trying to draw the attention of the district administration. Horticulturists take cudgels for those farmers, but agricultural extension officers, driven by the craze of the HYV culture (based on reckless exploitation of groundwater and chemicals, without caring for the ill-effect on the soil texture and chemicals) appear in no mood to listen. Even self-pollination — common in a majority of mango plants (excluding the rare strains developed during the pre-colonial era), which occurs at about four weeks in the pre-flowering stage, is affected by pesticides in adjoining paddy fields.

Dean K. McBride, extension entomologist, in a paper ‘Protecting Honeybees From Pesticides’ published in June 1990, expressed concern over the pesticide threat to honeybees. “The honeybee is the only insect that can be moved quickly and in the desired numbers to effect the pollination of cultivated crops, commercial gardens and orchards. Many pesticides used to control weeds, plant diseases and insects can be poisonous to bees and other beneficial insects. Most insecticides are especially injurious.”

The harsh truth of this is in evidence at mango orchards all over India, but it is especially agonising for Murshidabad. “Bees will usually leave the hive if they become poisoned. Pollen is stored in combs for feeding the brood (young bees). Contaminated pollen may kill the nurse bees and the brood,” McBride warned.

When we have a new possibility of making a dent into North America, the policymakers may think of creating a niche market like that of Darjeeling teas.

Restoration of Kahitur is a very remote possibility but others like Nababpasand, Begumpasand, Nisarpasand, Dilpasand, Ranipasand, Rani, Begambahar and Jafrani may not be. They were all cross-bred when Johann Mendel was not even born. But this task should not be left to retail trade tycoons who are after mass production and quick profits.

More Stories on : Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Cultivation

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