Mango growers appeal to Modi to increase export

Imsaram Ali, president of the Mango Growers Association of India on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate measures to increase export of mango in the international market.

"India produces 50 percent of the total mango produced in the world but we have a low export share. I appeal to Modi to direct the concerned ministries to increase our mango export share," Ali said.

Ali, who is in Bihar to attend a conference of mango growers, said India's export is less compared to Pakistan even though they produce inferior varieties of mangoes.

He said the union government should provide all possible help to mango growers for qualitative improvement like longer shelf life, branding and better packaging.

Ali said the government should come forward to provide heavy subsidy on export of mangoes. "It is simple, unless we market our mangoes in internationally, the demand will never increase,” he said.

Ali said, like Uttar Pradesh's Dussehri, Langda and Safeda mangoes, Bihar's mango varieties like Jardalu and Malda should be promoted for export.

He said the association is keen on exporting mangoes to Chile, New Zealand and Brazil. It is also eying the Middle East for export.

Ali admitted that mango growers in some areas of the country have been hit hard by the European Union's decision to impose a ban on import of mangoes from India.