People in Europe can relish mangoes grown in Karnataka again from next year.
Minister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda said in the Legislative Council on Tuesday that mango exports to Europe from Karnataka would resume next year. Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation Ltd. will issue certificates to exporters who meet the standards.
Mango exports from Karnataka to Europe stopped two months ago, before the beginning of this year’s season, after exporters failed to meet quality standards.
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Minister for Horticulture Shamanur Shivashankarappa said a delegation of experts from Europe would visit Bangalore from September 2 to 12 to study the quality of mangoes, after which they would decide on buying them. European countries were particular about quality and dump the fruits in the sea if they did not match standards, he said.
Mr. Gowda said the problem lay with insects. They lay eggs at the time of flowering and worms appear in the fruit. He said, “This is not accepted by European countries.”
N. Ravindra, Assistant General Manager, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said exports to Europe from Karnataka stopped two months ago.
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The bulk of mango exports from Karnataka to Europe consists of the Badami variety. A small quantity of Banganpalli is also exported.
Karnataka, a major mango producing State, also exports mangoes to West Asia and Southeast Asia. The fruit is grown mostly in Kolar, Chickballapur and Ramanagaram districts. The varieties that are grown in the State are Badami, Alphonso, Totapuri, Banganapalli, Pairi, Neelam and Malgoa.
India exported 41,280.01 million tonnes of mangoes worth Rs. 285.44 crore in 2013–14.