In a major initiative king of fruits, good, tasty pulpy variety of mangoes will be exported to the US and other countries this season. The juicy stone fruit which grows abundant in Karnataka will be part of a new initiative of the Mango development board to find market for desi mangos grown here to export to US, a potential market to exploit. According to officials of the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation limited (KSMDMC) they would be exporting around 2000 tons of juicy fruit grown across the State to US soon.
According to Kadregowda, Managing Director of KSMDMC, the mangoes from Karnataka have met the US specifications and the State would be exporting around 2000 tons of fruits to US. He said mango varieties like Alphonso, Banganapalli, Kesar and Dasheri grown here would find market in US.
The mangoes processed and given hot water along with gamma treatment to avoid insects and naturally ripened (without use of carbide) are ready for the shipment. According to officials a team from the US had even visited the mango processing facility centre at Kolar and given their approval to send them to US market. The Mango development corporation is also planning to start processing facilities at Madikeri and Hubballi. This is for the first time Karnataka is exporting mangoes to US in a large scale. The farmers are also exporting to South Korea, UK, Australia, Gulf Countries and Malaysia. The export of mangoes starts from April 15.
Mango as an alternative crop has helped farmers in many districts in the State to find a business. As the prevailing drought conditions and increased farmers suicides across the State have hit the farming sector but this initiative is a welcome change for the distressed farmers.
Karnataka is one of the top mango growing States in the country, with at least 1.7 lakh hectares in 16 districts used for cultivation of the fruit.