Vijayawada, May 18: Nuzvid in Krishna district is well-known for mango crop.
Banginapalli, Thotapuri and Chinna Rasam varieties of mangoes are cultivated in the upland area of the district.
The total crop acreage is 60,000 hectares. The fruit yield is 8 tonnes per hectare.
Though Krishna district tops in mango production, it is lagging behind in the fruit exports. This is largely attributed to lack of initiative on the part of horticultural and marketing officials to boost mango exports from the district.
At present, only one private company at Gollapudi market yard is engaged in exporting mangoes. It is surprising to note that only 15 tonnes of mangoes have been exported so far this year as against 60 tonnes of fruit exported during the same period last year.
The mangoes are exported to Chennai and from there to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. After procurement, the mangoes are given an ethylene treatment to enhance the shelf life of the fruit. The mangoes are exported in 5 kg cartons. If the quality of fruit produced in the district is not good, the exporter procures mangoes from neighbouring Khammam or West Godavari. The vapour treatment plant set up at Nuzvid for mango processing is lying idle at present due to lack of fruit exports.
As part of the measures to boost mango exports from the district, some marketing officials were sent to the Central Food Technology Research Centre in Karnataka for training in fruit processing.
Despite the extension of subsidies by the Agricultural and Processed Food Exports and Imports Development Authority (APEDA), there is little growth in mango exports from Krishna district.
Traders of northern states who are purchasing mangoes from the local commission agents at throwaway prices, are exporting the fruit to foreign countries from Mumbai.
Thus they are reaping good profits.
If the fruit is exported from the production centre itself, it will be helpful to mango farmers in getting a better price, says an exporter.
–Aencies