Dubai to get a taste of kesar mangoes from state

Gujarat will for the first time export kesar mangoes to Dubai this year. The UAE-based Vizrah Exim Pvt Ltd has started exporting 3,000 kesar mango packets per day from the Talala yard.

According to Maganbhai Patel, a leading mango trader, "Though there are over thousands of mango species cultivated in different parts of India, so far only alfonso mangoes were enjoying export demand. This year's mango season has just started and to meet the increasing international demand special packaging facilities are being prepared."

He said on April 29 only 11,286 mango packets arrived at the Talala market yard, which will increase to 45,000-50,000 packets per day during peak season.

Gafar Kureshi, a mango grower of Ramrechi village of Talala said that the kesar variety from Talala enjoys premium position and it is known as "Salambhai's Amberdi".

Another variety from the area is Tata's Ambardi, he said.

Kureshi follows organic mango farming and he has been awarded for quality production of kesar mango.

Kesar mango production is also becoming prominent in the Kutch district as this year farmers of Mandvi, Bhuj, Anjar and Mundra talukas have taken mangoes as a cash crop.

The Junagadh district in Saurashtra is the hub of kesar mango production in Gujarat. Other main mango producing areas are Talala, Una, Dhari and Vanthli. According to market sources, good rainfall last year will prop up mango production in Saurashtra and south Gujarat.

According to Manshukhbhai Patel, a mango merchant at the Talala Marketing yard, the yard at present is exporting 3,500 cartoons of 10 kg mangoes per day.

The Talala yard is witnessing regular inflow of 20,000 boxes and the price ranges between Rs 150 and Rs 200 per box. In Saurashtra, the daily sale of mangoes is at around 50,000 boxes.

According to state agriculture department estimates, mango yield in Gujarat this year is estimated to be more than five lakh tonne. Also, the average mango exports from the Talala region is estimated to worth Rs 50 crore this season.

Compared to a mango production of 23,455,000 tonne globally, India has a share of 12,000,000 tonne. Maharashtra and the Konkan area are the biggest mango producing regions in India. Other major states which produce mangoes are Gujarat Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

In 2002-03, the production of mangoes in Gujarat touched 4,95,000 metric tonne. The Kutch division of Gujarat is also expected to double the production of kesar mangoes this year from 1 lakh kg last year.

The Saurashtra region is receiving good export orders this season.

Saudi Arabia, European countries and Japan are regular importers of kesar mangoes from Saurashtra.