In India, mangoes of Alphonso, Kesari and Banginapalli varieties are the most sought after for export.
Rajahmundry: Mangoes from AP are in high demand in the US, Europe, South East Asia, and the Middle East. Over 500 metric tonnes of mangoes are exported from the state every year, fetching the state valuable foreign-exchange.
In India, mangoes of Alphonso, Kesari and Banginapalli varieties are the most sought after for export; and from AP, Banginapalli is the main variety exported.
Banginapalli mangoes are raised in parts of West Godavari, Kadapa, Chittoor, Anantapur and Krishna.
Apart from Banginpalli, farmers also raise other varieties such as Rasalu, Cheruku Rasalu, Suvarnarekha, Pandiri Mam-idi, and Kothapalli Kobbari.
Venkata Satya Surya Veerabhadra Rao, proprietor of Hota Agro Tech Private Limited, said, “We have been exporting the Banginapalli variety of mangoes to several foreign countries for some time now, given that there is a huge demand for them. Though the profit-margin of profit is not very high, we continue to export them to be able to see foreigners enjoying the taste of the delicious fruit from our country.”
Horticulture authorities say that this year’s mango crop is in its flowering stage, and that the mango trees are witnessing profuse flowering. Farmers say that once flowering begins, it is four months until the time the fruit is ready to be harvested.
It takes about 10 days for the mango flowers to turn into fruits the size of a marble, after which they continue to grow. The crop requires dry weather, and can sustain temperatures of up to 47 degrees centigrade.
The farmers are worried about the impending hailstorms and cyclonic showers which sometimes occur during the month of April, as this could destroy their crops.
They also need to ensure that their crops are not struck by diseases or attacked by pests during this time. If all goes well, the crops will be ready to be harvested in May.
It is determined if the fruits are ready to be harvested based on their size, colour, general appearance, total soluble sugar content and reading on the Brix meter, which must be at least 17 points.
Assistant Horticulture Director of West Godavari, A. Durgesh, said, “The exporters raise the mango plants are from their flowering stage until harvest, ensuring that pesticides and fertilisers are not used beyond the permissible limits. An officer of the Horticulture department has to issue a quarantine certificate, without which the mangoes cannot be sent overseas.”
