Foreign windfall for UP mango growers

8220;At the beginning of the season itself we have received export orders from Dubai,Malaysia,Singapore and Japan,8221; director of the Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad Rajesh Kumar Singh said.

8220;It is just the starting of the season and we are expecting to get orders from other countries as well,8221; he added.

As per the departmental estimates mango production is expected to cross 3 lakh tonnes mark this year,Singh said.

8220;As against 1.5 lakh tonnes produced last year,this year the production is expected to double,which has encouraged exporters to take bulk orders this year,8221; sources said.

Other than Mandi Parishad,the exporters are also getting direct orders from the clients.

8220;Besides,Gulf countries,Japan and Singapore,we have also received orders from London and Holland,8221; an exporter said,adding,8221;It is after a long gap,we are receiving orders from so many country.8221;

Singh said that last year the Mandi Parishad had exported

494.4 tonnes mangoes to a couple of countries. 8220;This year we

expect the quantity to increase considerably.8221;

He said that if growers produce better quality of

mangoes,which could be exported to the US and France,the

Parishad would consider a proposal to increase the subsidy

given to the exporters.

President of Mango Growers Association Insram Ali said that there is a great demand of Dussehri mangoes in Dubai and Jeddah and the 8220;first consignment will be exported within a couple of days8221;.

Dussehri mango has recently been registered under GI Act,which certifies that the fruit is produced only in Malihabad belt. Ali said that the certification would help the growers largely,8221;as now mangoes produced in other areas can not be sold with the name Dussehri.8221;