Concor to help Maharashtra mango growers to enhance quality

Container Corporation of India (Concor) will use its expertise and technology to help mango growers of Maharashtra enhance quality of their produce and get better market price.
The Navratna PSU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) to help mango producers under its CSR initiative.
Concor, which operates under the administrative control of Railway Ministry, inked the MoU last week in Sindhudurg district, whose Devgad taluka is known as the heartland of the famous Alphonso mango.
"Under this CSR initiative we want to upgrade not only the quality of mangoes, but also the living standards of the mango farmers in the state. To begin with, we have issued an advance cheque of Rs 20 lakh to MSAMB," said Sharat Chandrayan, Group General Manager, Concor (Western Region).

Sindhudurg Collector Anil Bhandari and Ajit Gogate, Chairman of Deogad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahkari Sanstha, which operates a large fruit processing plant, were also present
Under the agreement, Concor will upgrade Mango Pack House at Jamsande in Devgad at a cost of Rs 68 lakh.

"We have both expertise and equipment to add values in food products (especially mangoes). We strongly believe our chain of cold storage would fetch a good deal for the mango- growing farmers of Maharashtra, especially of Konkan region, famous for the production and export of Alphanso mango," Chandrayan said.
Due to lack of proper infrastructure, the farmers are not able to reach the appropriate market with intact quality of mangoes and that will be no longer the case now, he said.

A Concor statement said the PSU would assist MSAMB in upgradation of cold and ripening rooms using latest technology.
The company would also assist the board officials and farmers in material handling and ancillary equipment, including battery operated pallet stacker and carton strapping machine, the statement added.