Record arrival of mangoes in the market, special focus on quality

0

Seeing many varieties of mangoes in the market, it can be inferred that the mango season has started. Due to the change in weather, in the month of March this year, the supply and turnover of mangoes in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) has more than tripled as compared to the previous March. Which has also affected the price and exports. However, there is a possibility of less supply of mangoes in April.

At present, Navi Mumbai APMC is receiving an average of 70,000 mango boxes (four dozen in a box) every day, which is a record so far. Of these, 80 per cent are Alphonso mangoes. At present, the price of Alphonso (Hapus) is running at Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 per box in the wholesale market while it is being sold at Rs 14,000 to 30,000 per quintal.

Apart from this, consignments of mangoes are also coming from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Badami, Lalbagh and Totapuri mangoes are also receiving arrival of about 14 thousand boxes every day.

Mumbai APMC fruit market director Sanjay Pansare said that such a bumper production in March has not been seen in recent times. Usually the mango season starts in April, but this time it is unprecedented. It is the fruit of the flower that appears in October-November. This is the highest supply witnessed by APMC in the last five years. The businessman is happy that there is good demand among the customers. However, the prices have come down by about 25 per cent in the last one week.

Due to increase in supply of mangoes in the market, exports have also picked up. Sajid Bagwan, who exports mangoes from Mumbai to the Gulf, says his company usually exports 500 containers, each containing 700-800 boxes, to the Gulf every season. We have so far exported 70 per cent of our quota, whereas usually around 30 per cent was exported by this time.

Although experts say that due to rain and change in weather, the arrival of mangoes in the month of April is going to be weaker than in the month of March, but the supply is expected to pick up again in May.

Winter flowers have been affected due to not much cold in December, which may reduce the supply in April. Supplies were expected to increase again in May. The May mango crop has been affected due to the recent rains. However, the extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.

Focus on quality and identity

Alphonso mangoes, which come from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, are called the king of mangoes. GI tag has been imposed to recognize its quality. It is noteworthy that in 2018, Alphonso mangoes received the GI (Geographical Indication) tag, giving consumers assurance of quality and authenticity.

Mango traders say that mangoes from Maharashtra and Karnataka are similar in appearance but different in taste. The GI tag confirms the region to which the product belongs. Mangoes are being sold in APMC market with GI tag.

Due to the strictness of the government, chemical ripening of mangoes has stopped. The market committee is claiming that ripening of mangoes using chemicals has stopped in the last five-odd years.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here