Such plants exist only in Mumbai and Bengaluru and their local mango varieties such as Alphonso, Bombay Green, Totapari, and Banganapalle dominate the export market.
According to a press release, mangoes from UP are sent to these cities before being exported due to the absence of radiation treatment facility in the state. Since it takes time in the transportation of mangoes to these cities, there are risks to the fruit quality, besides increase in the costs. The Yogi government hopes that UP’ farmers may get fresh opportunities for exporting their mangoes by its decision to set up a radiation treatment plant.
The proposed plant near Jewar airport would be built on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The new plant will be equipped with advanced radiation treatment technology. According to the release, this process effectively eliminates harmful bacteria and pests. This also enhances the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and grains, making them suitable for international export. The Yogi government aims to streamline the export process by extending this facility to mango growers in the state. It will also reduce dependency on other treatment centres located outside the state.
The government is under a plan to ensure good quality of mangoes by getting help from canopy management techniques. This method, essential for rejuvenating old orchards, has already got support from the state government through a recent government order, aimed at resolving delays in its implementation. Scientists are promoting this technique and thus, it’s an encouragement for the orchardists to adopt canopy management to revitalize old mango trees.
At a recent national seminar on mangoes organized by the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) in Rehmankheda, Lucknow, Israeli scientist Yuvan Cohen emphasized that India should tailor its mango production to meet European preferences. As per the release, CM Yogi always encourages farmers to align crop production with market demand. Although India is the world’s top mango producer, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for over a third of the nation’s yield, its performance in terms of exports remains much below expectations.India’s share in global mango exports stands at just 0.52%, far behind countries like Thailand (24%), Mexico (18%), Brazil (11%), Vietnam (5%), and Pakistan (4.57%). This underscores the vast potential for Indian mangoes, particularly those grown in Uttar Pradesh, to expand into international markets.