Mysuru: As many as 2,000 tonnes of mangoes will be exported this year, said Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Chairperson M Kamalakshi Rajanna.
With European and American countries revoking the ban on the import of mangos, the fruit will be exported directly from farmers, she said after inaugurating Mango Mela at Curzon Park here on Thursday.
There is good demand for Alphonso, Badami, Mallika and Benishan mango varieties and exporters are purchasing them directly from farmers, she said.
“Due to poor packaging, and lack of knowledge about how to export fruits, some countries had imposed a ban, but now things have changed. Farmers are provided training on how to export mangoes and harvest them using modern techniques,” she said.
She said two mango development centres are being set up – one at Kolar and the other at Chikballapur.
The centres will be equipped with vapour heat treatment equipment, ripening chambers and other latest technology to help farmers, she added.
“Mango is grown in 1.70 lakh hectares in the State. An average of 7-8 lakh tonnes of mangoes are harvested every day. Kolar ranks first in the state in mango cultivation,” she said.
“Consuming organically grown fruits is good for health. People should stop purchasing mangoes ripened using carbide. Even traders are being educated about the importance of selling organically harvested fruits,” she added.
