Grown extensively in the Konkan region of the state, Alphonso mangoes are prized export commodity from Maharashtra. The Middle East, European Union countries and the USA are major destinations.
This year, the Alphonso mango can conquer new shores with the state marketing officers eyeing the South Korean and Malaysian markets. Senior officers of the Maharashtra Agricultural Marketing Board said talks are on to carry out the modalities necessary to facilitate exports of the fruit to these two countries once the season starts.
Last year, the Indian mangoes had reached Australia and Japan other than its traditional markets. Last fiscal, 49,180 tonnes of mangoes were exported from India, which was a dip of 13.82 per cent from the export figures of 2016-17. Unseasonal rain had wreaked havoc during the crucial flowering stage, which had reduced the crop by almost 25-30 per cent. Domestic prices were also high in view of the paucity of the fruit. This year exporters are hoping for a good season with a 10-15 per cent increase in exports.
Meanwhile, it is talked about reports from both Konkan and Karnataka have talked of a bumper crop in the offing. Flowering in both states have been ample and the absence of untimely squalls or winds have brightened the prospects for the year.
