Mumbai, April 24: It was after a gap of 17 years that India resumed export of mangoes to the US in April 2007. Since then exports have risen considerably. This year, around 3,000 metric tonne of mangoes will be exported to the US, ten times more than last year’s 160 tonne.

Exporters are, however, still waiting for the Bhaba Atomic Research Centre’s new irradiation facility at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, to get approvals from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The radiation technology will be used on mangoes to be exported. As of now, the process is on at the Lasalgaon facility. Operational from April 8, six metric tonne mangoes are processed and sent to US everyday.

An official from Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) said, “The export includes alphonso, kesar and benganpalli. If the Vashi facility starts soon, an additional 20 metric tonne mangoes can be sent per day from there.” He added, “While for the US, the irradiation process is a must, Japan has specified the vapour heat treatment.”

A vapour heat treatment facility is available at Vashi and 1.5 metric tonne mangoes are expored to Japan everyday. The ITC too now plans to export mangoes to Japan.

“Compared to the Middle East or Europe, the US and Japan market are high value markets. As a part of standardisation, we have given global gap certification to 150 mango growers in Maharashtra,” added the official.