Widespread mango crop damage ruins India's export season - FreshFruitPortal.com

Widespread mango crop damage ruins India's export season

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Widespread mango crop damage ruins India's export season

Hopes were high in India this season as an early lifting of the European-ban on mango imports signaled the start of what promised to be a successful domestic and export campaign. However, according to a comprehensive study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) obtained by www.freshfruitportal.com, the reality for 2015 is very different. There are low volumes this season due to severe weather ruining significant proportions of the crop, leading to price pressures on the domestic market. And in terms of exports, sales and volumes are nowhere near as good as they should be. mango_47852692 panorama

India continues to struggle to make headway in the export of its rich varieties of mango despite its potential for being a global leader for the crop.

Assocham is trying to address the reasons behind this and put forward a plan of action to transform India's export volumes and value. Officials have sent www.freshfruitportal.com a copy of 'Mango - Anxiety on Production and Export Front'.

"Considering the production volumes and variety of Indian mangoes, the countryā€™s export at 41,280 metric tons (MT) is insignificant... India's share in global markets is minuscule," the report says.

"Countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, South Africa, Kenya, Israel and Australia have taken up large scale cultivation of mango and succeeded in building a base for themselves in the export market.

"In Asia, the Philippines is a major exporter of mangoes with strong presence in Japan and other Asian and European countries."

Why is India struggling?

As an exporter, India has a presence in the United Arab Emirates, the U.K., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Nepal as well as small export volumes to continental Europe, but it is facing 'several challenges' in mango exports around the world.

The report says although the EU is a lucrative market, Indian exporters struggle to cope with different MRLs (maximum residue limits) for pesticides, drugs and other contaminants as well as 'complex procedures for sampling and product testing'.

Exports to the U.S. are hampered because of the cost of certification for mangoes and Japanā€™s 'stringent plant quarantine procedures including zero tolerance for the insects and pests which already exist in Japan' leads to difficulties for India in this potentially lucrative market.

"In addition, irradiation, vapor heat treatment (VHT), phytosanitary requirements and supervision by importing countries inspectors' often create hurdles in smooth and fast exports," the report continues.

"India is unable to control and resolve the issues on account of fruit fly and fruit borer, which is affecting the export prospects for Indian mangoes."

However, the report notes that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is taking pro-active steps to mitigate such hurdles such as the introduction of Mangonet, an online traceability system that registers mango growers and exporters to enable importers and retailers in the European Union to check complete details of shipments and track the farm origin.

Mangonet was set up following successful launches of similar online initiatives for grapes and pomegranates.

Agri Export Zones (AEZ)

In 2001 the Ministry of Commerce began to operate a scheme where 60 AEZs were set up in various states connected with mango production including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The aim of the initiative was to promote mango exports on a global scale but, according to the report, this has failed to have any significant impact over the years.

"Although the AEZ scheme helped in promoting agri exports, it was never able to achieve or accelerate the pace/volume of mango exports as intended.

"Hence it needs a fresh look and thorough overhaul of the scheme to converge the efforts of central and state government to increase agro-exports. The required steps are being taken by the government in this direction to realize the objectives of the scheme.

"Thus regardless of the huge potential in mango exports, India is unable to exploit the opportunities. In the current year, poor quality and lower production prospects are likely to impact mango exports from India badly."

Impact of severe weather on 2015 season

Domestically, mango is extremely expensive this season, up by approximately 65% according to Assocham, due to a series of weather setbacks earlier this year and in late 2014 which have badly damaged volumes and quality.

Unseasonal rains have resulted in production losses of up to 50% in some states and prices have gone up at a far higher rate compared with other fruit and vegetables. The worst affected area for damage was in Uttar Pradesh which produces the largest variety of mangoes in more than a dozen belts such as Malihabad, Shahabad, Amroha, Bulandshahr, Hardoi, Unnao, Barabanki and Saharanpur.

"The current yearā€™s mango crop suffered the onslaught of repeated rains accompanied by hailstorms and strong winds from the end of January to early April 2015 in north and central India.

"While the loss is still being assessed as the harvest continues, preliminary estimates point towards a minimum loss of 20% on production. In pockets of Utter Pradesh the loss is estimated at over 50%. Utter Pradesh contributes over 20% of the countryā€™s productions, close to four million metric tons (MT). With regard to Maharashtra and other central Indian states, the situation is equally as bad.

"In this backdrop, the country is likely to suffer setback on the production front with the current yearā€™s production falling below 15 million MT."

Although various state governments have announced relief measures, including compensation, they are not enough to mitigate losses incurred by farmers and to have an impact on price spikes.

"Social welfare and farmers groups are voicing their concern over the plight of farmers, especially the need to have comprehensive crop insurance in place to offset loss of income of farmers at least reasonably or partially," the report adds.

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