IndiaPost.com - Indian mangoes ready for US after 18 yrs

NEW DELHI: Americans will finally get a taste of the famous Indian Alphonso mangoes after a gap of 18-years, as the first batch of the fruit is ready to be shipped to the US following necessary regulatory clearances. The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) have received a green signal for the export of the mangoes.

To begin with, India will export Alphonso, Banganpalli and Kesar, the early maturing mango varieties consisting of 150 boxes. Other varieties such as Langra, Chausa, Mallika and Dussheri are proposed for exports in the latter part of the mango season. The initial consignment primarily consists of mangoes from orchards in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Opening of the US market for the Indian mango spells an excellent business opportunity for Indian mango producers and it is now for the Indian entrepreneurs, mango growers and trade associations to realize the fruits of the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, an official release said.

There is no import duty on mangoes exported to the US. Demand for mangoes in the US is strong, with a market size estimated at about 25,000 tons. The strong demand for the fruit is partly driven by large and growing Indian Diaspora there. Currently, the leading exporter of mangoes to the US is Mexico with Central American countries following. The fruit from India has regained entry to the US market after a gap of 18 years. The US had stopped import of mangoes as it felt that Indian farmers were using too much pesticide, according to Agricultural Products Export Development Authority. However, it has been revived after US President George W Bush's visit to India last year.

Sustained efforts on the part of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and APEDA aimed at meeting the US import plant health requirements for mango have finally borne fruit," the release said. The United States Department of Agriculture has finally decided to grant market access for Indian mangoes, thus paving the way for commencement of mango exports from India to the US, it said. The issue of export of mangoes was a long-standing Indian request and was hanging fire till now due to unresolved bilateral phytosanitary issues.

The exports have finally come through as a consequence of protracted negotiations between USDA and the Department of Agriculture Cooperation (DAC) officials. The USDA has imposed Import Rules for Indian mango, prescribing irradiation phytosanitary treatment based on a mutually agreed treatment protocol, which aims at assuring that there would be no risk of introduction of exotic plant diseases and pests into the US.