Mango export to the United States is likely to touch a new high this year as the mango irradiation centre in Vashi, which is mandatory process for export of mangoes to the US, will become functional by April 15, 2016.
The Maharashtra state agriculture marketing board (MSAMB) has set the ambitious target of 400 metric tonnes of mango irradiation, after getting clearance from the US delegation, visited at Vashi facility irradiation centre on February 25. The centre has also received other required clearances.
The agriculture department of US has set stringent norms for importing mangoes or any other fruits. In accordance with the US norms, irradiation of mangoes is mandatory before exporting them to the country.
So far, Maharashtra had only one irradiation centre in Lasalgoan in Nashik. However, with Vashi centre is ready, exporters and farmers are planning to increase the volume of export of the fruit to the US. Keeping growing inquirers, MSAMB has increased target of of mango export by 21% in the current year.
"In 2015, the total irradiation of mangoes was 329 metric tonnes at Lasalgaon centre and now we have set a separate target for Vashi centre of 400 metric tonnes, a sharp rise of 21%," said Sushil Chavan, radiation safety officer at Vashi facility centre.
Earlier, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had in 2002 set up the irradiation centre - Krushak (Krushi Utpadan Sanrakshan Kendra) - in Lasalgaon, to irradiate agricultural commodities for preservation. The Krushak food irradiation facility commercially operated by the MSAMB as part of a tripartite agreement between BARC, Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology and the agricultural board.
The US had banned of importing Indian mangoes about one-and-half decade ago over fears that pests would be imported through these mangoes. Later, in 2006, the agriculture department of US agreed to import on the condition that the mangoes would be first irradiated before exporting. The export then resumed and in 2009, a total 121 metric tonnes of mangoes was irradiated and exported from Lasalgaon irradiation centre. During irradiation, foods are exposed briefly to a radiant energy source such as gamma rays. "The process not only helps in killing harmful bacteria but also increases shelf life of the fruit by increasing the ripening process," said Chavan.
"We are getting good number of inquirers from farmers who want to export mangoes to the US," said Digamber Sable, assistant general manager at export facility centre, MSAMB in Vashi.
The capacity of Vashi centre is more than Lasalgaon and it is likely to irradiate more mangoes in the current season. "We have capacity to irradiate 8 tonnes mangoes per day," said Chavan.
In addition, the Vashi centre is also exploring export of pomegranate to the US. "The US has only three months period of pomegranate while we have almost round the year. If we get all export clearance from the US, exporters from the state can send pomegranate round the year," Chavan added.
Mango irradiation under MSAMB in last few years
Year quantity (in metric tonnes)
2009 121
2010 95
2011 84
2012 210
2013 281
2014 295
2015 329
2016 400 (target)
The Maharashtra state agriculture marketing board (MSAMB) has set the ambitious target of 400 metric tonnes of mango irradiation, after getting clearance from the US delegation, visited at Vashi facility irradiation centre on February 25. The centre has also received other required clearances.
The agriculture department of US has set stringent norms for importing mangoes or any other fruits. In accordance with the US norms, irradiation of mangoes is mandatory before exporting them to the country.
So far, Maharashtra had only one irradiation centre in Lasalgoan in Nashik. However, with Vashi centre is ready, exporters and farmers are planning to increase the volume of export of the fruit to the US. Keeping growing inquirers, MSAMB has increased target of of mango export by 21% in the current year.
"In 2015, the total irradiation of mangoes was 329 metric tonnes at Lasalgaon centre and now we have set a separate target for Vashi centre of 400 metric tonnes, a sharp rise of 21%," said Sushil Chavan, radiation safety officer at Vashi facility centre.
Earlier, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) had in 2002 set up the irradiation centre - Krushak (Krushi Utpadan Sanrakshan Kendra) - in Lasalgaon, to irradiate agricultural commodities for preservation. The Krushak food irradiation facility commercially operated by the MSAMB as part of a tripartite agreement between BARC, Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology and the agricultural board.
The US had banned of importing Indian mangoes about one-and-half decade ago over fears that pests would be imported through these mangoes. Later, in 2006, the agriculture department of US agreed to import on the condition that the mangoes would be first irradiated before exporting. The export then resumed and in 2009, a total 121 metric tonnes of mangoes was irradiated and exported from Lasalgaon irradiation centre. During irradiation, foods are exposed briefly to a radiant energy source such as gamma rays. "The process not only helps in killing harmful bacteria but also increases shelf life of the fruit by increasing the ripening process," said Chavan.
"We are getting good number of inquirers from farmers who want to export mangoes to the US," said Digamber Sable, assistant general manager at export facility centre, MSAMB in Vashi.
The capacity of Vashi centre is more than Lasalgaon and it is likely to irradiate more mangoes in the current season. "We have capacity to irradiate 8 tonnes mangoes per day," said Chavan.
In addition, the Vashi centre is also exploring export of pomegranate to the US. "The US has only three months period of pomegranate while we have almost round the year. If we get all export clearance from the US, exporters from the state can send pomegranate round the year," Chavan added.
Mango irradiation under MSAMB in last few years
Year quantity (in metric tonnes)
2009 121
2010 95
2011 84
2012 210
2013 281
2014 295
2015 329
2016 400 (target)