AP State plans to enhance mango exports on a large scale

Vijayawada: The AP government has plans to encourage mango exports in large scale from the next season by preparing an action plan. As per the proposals, the department of Horticulture wants to divide different mango clusters in region wise like Nuzvid, Ulavapadu, Chittoor, and Srikakulam-Vizianagaram.

The government would provide various facilities under this plan. The State government is taking steps to promote mango exports as part of Cluster Wise Development Plan made by National Horticulture Board.

The State government identified the demand for AP mango produce in international markets. The AP mango products have huge demand in various foreign countries like Singapore, America, Japan and other European countries. Now the State government wants to speedup mango export promotion activities in large scale following the schemes introduced by Centre.

The Centre will provide funds from National Horticulture Board and also Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The farm ponds and water facilities could be developed through (MGNREGS). Indeed, the AP is second largest mango producer in the country with an extent of almost 5 lakh hectares and 45 lakh tonnes of mango products on an average in a year.  

The mango varieties of Nuzvid of Krishna district and Ulavapadu of Prakasam districts have good demand in markets. Similarly, the mango produce of Chittoor and Srikakulam-Vizianagaram are most useful for making of mango pulp and other related products.

The State Horticulture department explained the details while National Horticulture Board also identified the importance. Now the National Horticulture Board expressed willingness to release funds for mango export promotion.

The facilities like post harvesting technology, cold storage facilities and laboratories would be provided under this project. Apart from this, the awareness and marketing facilities would be provided to farmers.

Horticulture department commissioner Chiranjeevi Chowdary said that the government wants to encourage mango cultivation under natural farming procedures also. He said that the mangoes would be exported from Nuzvid, Vizianagaram, Tirupati and Gopalapuram areas in the State.