After US, Indian mangoes go to Japan

After the US, India has started exporting mangoes to Japan with the first consignment of one tonne Banganpalli mangoes from Tirupati sent to Tokyo.

"India is exporting mangoes to Japan after a 20-year ban that was lifted for six varieties in June last year," Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said on Monday.

The first consignment of mangoes was sent to Japan on Sunday.

India would be exporting the six varieties of Alphonso, Banganpalli, Chausa, Kesar, Langra and Mallika, he said, adding that by the end of July, India hoped to export about 35-40 tonnes (70,000 mangoes) to Tokyo.

He said market access for Malda and Dushehari varieties are also now under review.

Observing that Andhra Pradesh accounts for 30 per cent of the country's mango production and 80 per cent of the mango pulp production, Ramesh said that the state governments should promote setting up of a mango growers cooperatives and involvement of women's self help group to ensure that farmers get better price for their produce.

Each Banganpalli mango is expected to retail for Rs 200 in Japanese stores, he said.

The APEDA has established a vapour heat treatment plant at Vashi near Mumbai and is setting up three more at Tirupati, Nuzvid in Andhra Pradesh and at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh at an investment of Rs eight crore each.