An official in the Horticulture department in Srinivaspur said many requests to set up a pulping industry have been in vain.
“The dealers come here, buy mangoes in large quantities from the yards or directly from the farmers and sell them at a higher price to the pulping industries. Karnataka has no pulping industry of its own,” the official said.
Karnataka generates 1.1-1.2 million tonnes of mangoes, of which 100,000 tonnes is from Kolar district alone.
Of the 22,000 tonnes of Totapuri mangoes produced, 14,000 tonnes is from Srinivasapur. Around 48,000 hectares of land in Kolar is under mango cultivation, of which 22,000 hectares is in Srinivasapur.
To increase crop production, export more mangoes and sell more in local markets, next season, the Horticulture department has decided to undertake a rigorous awareness drive October onwards, when sowing starts.
S V Hittalamani, former additional director of the department, said 80% of the Totapuri is processed for juice, tetra packs, frozen fruit and squash. Only 20% is consumed raw.
