Traders at the Gaddi Annaram Agricultural Market Yard (Kothapet Fruit Market) continue to hoodwink the authorities and ripen the mangoes by unhealthy means. While the use of Calcium Carbide was successfully done away with, a new chemical compound named ‘Ethephon’ has taken its place. It is available in small sachets ready to be placed inside the mango cartons.
“The sachets need to be soaked in water for six seconds and placed amid the mangoes,” says a worker at the market yard.
Once it comes into contact with moisture, the chemical releases Ethylene gas, which is permitted for ripening fruits as per the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
There is a hitch though. Food safety officials inform usage of the chemical cannot be allowed, as the fruit is bound to come into contact with it. Only Ethylene in its gaseous form is permitted, says Director, Institute of Preventive Medicine Public Health Labs & Food (Health) Administration, Telangana, K. Shankar, who had recently led a team of scientists from the State Food Laboratory, Nacharam to conduct inspections inside the market. Samples of chemical sachets and fruits were collected from the market, and sent for analysis.
“We found traces of neither Carbide nor Ethephon on the fruit, but for Ethephon traces to appear, the fruit should be exposed to it for a couple of days. We collected fresh samples,” Dr. Shankar explained.
During his visit, he advised the traders as well as Market Committee officials to ensure that the chemical does not come into contact with the fruit.
“I asked them to use a soap box with holes to place the wet sachets in and spread layers of dry grass to separate it from mangoes. That way, the chemical would not come into contact with the fruit, even while releasing Ethylene gas to ripen it,” Dr. Shankar said.
Besides, he cautioned them against using more than three to four sachets in a carton with 25 kg to 30 kg of mangoes. However, his instructions have been ignored by the traders, who continue to throw more than the prescribed number of sachets directly on the fruit.
Market Committee officials, on the condition of anonymity, informed that pressure on the trader had resulted in boycott of operations for a day earlier, due to which farmers arriving to the market were stranded. Since then, officials are condoning the use of Ethephon sachets.
The ₹1 crore Ethylene ripening chamber constructed by the government with a capacity of 60 tonnes has been rented out for a song, for refrigeration of apples. The Market committee derives an income of ₹40,000 per month from the chamber.
“The chamber does not suffice the 1,000 tonnes to 1,200 tonnes of mango arrivals per day. About 70% of the fruit is exported to various other cities, hence, cannot be kept here for more than a day,” says a Market Committee official.
