New Delhi: On Saturday 10th of July, The Ministry Of Commerce and Industry said that India has expanded its footprint of exporting mangoes to new countries this season, despite the logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a major initiative to boost mango export potential from the eastern region, especially to the Middle East countries, a consignment of Geographical Identification (GI) certified Fazil mango variety procured from Malda district of West Bengal was exported to Bahrain today.

According to a commerce ministry press release, the Fazil mango consignment was exported by APEDA registered DM Enterprises, Kolkata, and imported by Al Jazeera Group, Bahrain.

 “APEDA (Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is initiating measures to promote export of mangoes from non-traditional regions and states. It organizes virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports. The shipment to Bahrain comes days after APEDA organized a mango promotional event in Doha, Qatar, where nine varieties of mangoes, including GI certified from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, were displayed at the store of the importer Family. The nine varieties exported include GI certified Khirsapati (Malda, West Bengal), Lakhanbhog (Malda, West Bengal), Fazli (Malda, West Bengal), Dussehhri (Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh), Amrapali and Chausa (Malda, West Bengal), and Langra (Nadiya, West Bengal).

In June this year, a week-long Indian Mango Promotion Program was organized in Bahrain, showcasing 16 varieties of fruits including three GI certified Khirsapati and Laxmanbhog (West Bengal), Jardalu (Bihar).

  The mango varieties were sold through the group’s 13 stores in Bahrain. Mangoes were procured from farmers of Bengal and Bihar by APEDA registered exporters. APEDA has been organizing virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports. It recently organized a general festival in Berlin, Germany.

For the first time this season, India has recently dispatched 2.5 Metric Tonnes (MT) of GI-certified Banganapalli and other varieties of Survarnarekha mangoes from farmers in Krishna and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh, the ministry said.

Mango is also called ‘King of Fruits’ in India and in ancient scriptures, it is called Kalpavriksha (Wish-giving tree). While most states of India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka account for a major share in the total production of the fruit.

Alphonso, Kesar, Totapuri, and Banganapalli are the major varieties exported from India. Mango is mainly exported in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp, and mango slice.