In a significant boost to mango exports potential from the eastern region, sixteen varieties of mangoes, including three GI certified Khirsapati and Lakshmanbhog (West Bengal), Zardalu (Bihar), are being exported to Bahrain.

The fruits have been sourced from farmers in Bengal and Bihar by Agriculture, and processed food production export Development Authority (APEDA) registered exporter, DM enterprises, Kolkata and imported by Al Jazeera group, Bahrain.

APEDA has been initiating measures to boost mango exports from non-traditional regions and states. APEDA has been conducting a virtual buyer-seller meet and festival to promote mango exports.

For the first time this season, India has shipped a consignment of 2.5 Metric Tonne (MTs) of Geographical Indication (GI) certified Banganapalli and other variety Survarnarekha mangoes sourced from farmers in Krishna and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh to South Korea.

“Mango in India is also referred to as ‘king of fruits’ and referred to as Kalpavriksha (wish granting tree) in ancient scriptures. While most of the states in India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have a major share in total production of the fruit,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

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.

Mangoes are processed by the APEDA registered packhouse facilities and then exported to various regions and countries, including the Middle East, European Union, USA, Japan and South Korea.