• India has expanded its footprint of mango exports to newer countries this season, notwithstanding logistical challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic. 

• A consignment of Geographical Identification (GI) certified Fazli mango variety sourced from Malda district of West Bengal was exported to Bahrain, the commerce ministry said.

• APEDA has been initiating measures to boost mango exports from the non-traditional regions and states.

• This shipment to Bahrain comes a few days after APEDA organised a mango promotion programme at Doha, where nine varieties of mangoes including GI-certified from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh were displayed at the stores of importer Family Food Centre.

• These nine varieties include GI-certified Khirsapati (Malda, West Bengal), Lakkhanbhog (Malda, West Bengal), Fazli (Malda, West Bengal), Dussehri (Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh) and Amrapali and Chausa (Malda, West Bengal) and Langda (Nadiya, West Bengal).

• For the first time in this season, India has shipped a consignment of 2.5 MT of GI-certified Banganapalli and other variety Suvarnarekha mangoes sourced from farmers in Krishna and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Mango varieties in India

• India ranks first among world’s mango producing countries. Other major mango producing countries include China, Thailand, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria and Egypt. 

• India is the home to about 1,000 varieties of mango.

• The major mango-growing states are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Uttar Pradesh ranks first in mango production with a share of 23.47 per cent and highest productivity.

• Alphonso, Kesar, Totapuri and Banganpalli are leading export varieties from India. 

• Mango exports primarily take place in three forms: fresh mango, mango pulp and mango slice.

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