Delectable Alphonso getting cheaper

Consumers can afford to have a larger slice of the King of fruits, the alphonso mango, this summer with prices declining as the markets begin to be flooded with new arrivals.

The director of Mumbai Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Balasaheb Bhende, said wholesale prices have come down to the range of Rs 80-200 per dozen from Rs 150 to Rs 400 per dozen two weeks ago.

"The arrivals have picked up over the last week and over 500 vehicles are coming into the wholesale market in Navi Mumbai everyday. This amounts to roughly one lakh boxes per day, with four dozen mangoes in a box," he said. This is despite reports of crop damage due to inclement weather in growing areas.

The alphonso mangoes are currently arriving in Navi Mumbai are from the Konkan region, and would continue to arrive up to May 15.

Thereafter, Bhende said, arrivals from Gujarat will begin where the crop is expected to be good as well. The peak season lasts up to June 15.

"The prices of the Gujarat variety are also likely to remain reasonable because of the size of the crop," he said.

Arrivals of other varieties, including Payri from the Konkan region and Totapuri and Badami from Andhra Pradesh, have also started with average 50 trucks coming into the market per day. The Payri is currently selling at Rs 50-100 per dozen, while Totapuri is selling at Rs 8 per kg and Badami at Rs 13 per kg.

Ninad Bhosle, vice president of exports, ITC Ltd, said the second crop was also good in the Konkan area, but the fruit is expected to be harvested at the same time as in most other producing areas and this could lead to a decline in prices.

The wholesale prices of the Totapuri variety is also expected to fall to Rs 3-4 per kg in Andhra Pradesh from the last year's level of Rs 5-8 per kg due to increased production.

As for the international market, APMC's Bhende said exports would be as good as last year "or maybe better".

The Middle East accounts for over 60 per cent of India's alphonso exports, followed by the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, the United States and Europe.

The growing demand for green mango drinks "" being produced by companies such as Dabur and Parle Agro "" is expected to bring stability to raw mango prices, ITC's Bhosle said.

Bhosle said there is a possibility of a quantum jump in the exports of the fruit and its by-products.

"This year, India will have a competitive edge in the western mango market compared with Mexico, which is a major competitor," he said.

As for the international market, he said the exports would be equal to or better than last year.

India's largest export market is the Middle-East, which accounts for over 60 per cent of the total exports. This is followed by the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, United States and other European nations.