Gujarat to begin export of kesar mangoes to US

AHMEDABAD: Kesar mangoes are getting ready for the real test on Thursday. Enthused by its successful exports of kesar, a well-known variety produced in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat, to Japan only last month, the state-owned Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation (GAIC) is now all set to export fresh kesar mangoes to the US.

GAIC exported kesar to Japan after the latter lifted ban on import of mangoes on the condition that the fruit is vapour heat-treated (VHT). To maintain hygienic quality as per international standards, GAIC decided to set up its own VHT plant at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore at Naroda in Ahmedabad, says corporation’s MD SC Srivastav. The plant would start functioning by November 2007.

To begin with, GAIC would export 1,000 boxes of one dozen each (approximately 3 kg) through the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) approved Desai Fruits & Vegetable Pack House, Navsari. These mangoes would formally be exported to the US from the Ahmedabad international airport on Thursday.

The GAIC had sent the consignment to BARRC plant at Lasangaon in Nashik for Gamma irradiation. After the radiation process, the consignment would be brought to Ahmedabad and would be kept in cold storage. The consignment would then be sent to the US via Mumbai on June 15.

Earlier, the corporation had exported approximately 600 kg of kesar mangoes to Japan on May 5. For a diversified trade, the corporation has tied up with one of the government recognised export agents. Earlier, it had exported mangoes in the early nineties.

As of now, GAIC gets kesar mango tested at the plant maintained by the Maharashtra Fruit Board. Besides, kesar, Gujarat has also been producing popular varieties including alphanso, rajapuri, vunraj and jamadar. Mango is commercially grown in more than 80 countries.

Gujarat contributes approximately 6 lakh tonnes as the same is grown on 96,000 hectares of land or about 6% of country’s total mango production. Among the mangoes exported from India, alphanso and kesar account for more than 90% share and Gujarat is one of the major producer of premium quality mangoes, Mr Srivastav added.