Karnataka seeks mango synergies with north

Karnataka is planning to utilise the National Agriculture Co-operative Marketing Federation's (Nafed) marketing network in north India to sell its popular mangoes""Neelam and Totapuri.

In turn, state is offering its horticultural produce co-operative marketing societies outlets to sell Uttar Pradesh mangoes in Karnataka.

Karnataka's mango season is from April to June and does not clash with northern states for their season is June to September. The mango varieties unique to state are Badami, Raspuri, Kolar Baneesha, Neelam or Sindhuri, hybrid variety Malika and Totapuri.

"We have approached with this plan to Nafed and is likely to take effect for the next mango season," said Dr G K Vasanthkumar, Karnataka director of horticulture.

"The network utilisation in north will not affect any states but will be a win-win," he added. Karnataka with 80,000 hectares of mango cultivation is ranked fifth after Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharasthra among the mango growers in India.

Commenting on the possible tie-up to market state mangos in northern cities, B A Chanappa Gowda, managing director Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Limited, said "This will help boost Karnataka's sales both domestic as well as exports."

In 2004-05, Karnataka exported 5200 tonne of mangoes valued at Rs 8.8 crore mainly to south-east Asian countries, Europe, Middle-East and Bangadesh. On an average, the state produces 7.5-8 lakh tonne annually, 10 lakh tonne during a 'bumper' year, 3-5 lakh tonne during an 'off' year and 5-8 lakh tonne during an 'on' year. Kolar district accounts for 50 per cent of the produce followed by Bangalore Rural, Channapatna and Ramnagaram and Tumkur.

"Karnataka varieties like Neelam and Totapuri hit the market much early in March-April and will not affect north Indian varieties for they come only after June," explains Gowda. As an experiment this year, Nafed will utilise 266 Hopcom outlets in Bangalore and few outlets in other districts.

Speaking to Business Standard, Dinesh Chandra, assistant agriculture marketing officer, Baraeli region, Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad said "last year we test marketed by selling UP mangos in Bangalore, based on the overwhelming response, we have come back in a more organised way through Nafed."

This year, Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad is planning to sell its Nawab brand - Dashehari, Chausa and Langda - varieties in eight cities including Bangalore. To take care of domestic and exports, Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad has taken the assistance of Nafed and has given them a target of five tonne, said Chandra.

The UP government has invested in two packaging units in Lucknow and Saharanpur. These units has facilitated us to explore domestic market and also to consolidate our exports, said Chandra.

Talking about exports, Chandra, said last year 2003-04 mango season, UP exported 60 tonne. In 2004-05 season, a whopping 300 tonne were exported and this year we expect to do at the same levels.

"A huge mango export was possible for the UP Mandi Parishad due to successful entry in the markets of Europe, middle east, china, Bangladesh and Germany. This year we are exploring Singapore and Malaysia," he added.

Karnataka & the king of fruits

• Karnataka, with 80,000 hectares of mango cultivation, is ranked fifth among mango growing states
• Karnataka's mango season is from April to June and does not clash with northern states for their season is June to Sept
• In 2004-05, Karnataka exported 5200 tonne of mangoes valued at Rs 8.8 crore