Mango in India is also referred as ‘king of fruits’ and referred as Kalpavriksha (wish granting tree) in ancient scriptures.
While most of the states in India have mango plantations, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh followed by Telangana, Karnataka and Bihar have major share in total production of the fruit.
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.
Mango export
Exports of fresh mangoes from India have reportedly decreased by half this year.
In 2019-20, India exported 49,658 tonnes of fresh mangoes valued at over ₹4,000 crore. However, in 2020-21, the figure dropped to 21,033 tonnes due to the lockdown.
Almost half of the world's mangoes are cultivated in India alone, with the second-largest source being Indonesia.
Although India is the largest producer of mangoes, it accounts for less than 1% of the international mango trade; India consumes most of its own production.
Recent issues in North India:
North India is currently experiencing a decline in mango quality due to various factors.
Uttar Pradesh is mentioned as a significant mango-producing state, where farmers have been affected by a 40% decrease in production this year.
Dasheri mangoes are famous in Malihabad, Uttar Pradesh, where they are grown on 30,000 hectares of land.
Untimely rain, hailstorms, and attacks by semi-looper caterpillars have led to a decline in mango quality and production.
The poor taste, flavor, and color of mango varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Dasheri, Chausa, Langda, Lucknowi, Amrapali, and Mallika.
Farmers in North India have experienced reduced profits and lower market prices for their mangoes this season.
Scientists have suggested the use of the "bagging" method, placing bags over the fruit, to protect it from pests and the elements.
Weather changes, a decrease in secondary pollinators, and pest attacks have contributed to the reduced mango yield.
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