An astounding 20 million tonnes of mangoes are grown in India annually. Furthermore, we produce by far the most mangoes worldwide.

Even with our dominance, we export less than 0.5% of our total production. Even Pakistan’s Mango exports are higher than ours!

You could assume, however, that it’s because we cherish our mangoes too much to part with them. And in some ways, you would be correct. We consume the most mangoes worldwide because we eat so many of them!

But, that is only part of the story. Our exports are so low because of our fondness for mangoes alone. There is a more serious issue at hand. As you can see, UP is a mango-producing powerhouse, yielding about 5 million tonnes annually. That represents more than 25% of all mangos produced in India. Its export contribution isn’t as noteworthy, though.

It’s easy to understand because Mangoes grown in Uttar Pradesh cannot be preserved for export.

Mangoes are fragile fruits, particularly the Indian kinds. They need some gentle loving care on long voyages because their skin is thinner than that of varieties from Mexico or Brazil. Additionally, before they are prepared for export, they must undergo radiation treatment to eradicate bacteria and pests and be kept fresh. This process involves storing the products in dry, temperature-controlled facilities.

And that’s when the issue gets worse. Although UP has some excellent mango varieties, it doesn’t have the infrastructure to keep them fresher longer. Thus, before its mangoes can be exported, they must be sent to places like Bengaluru or Mumbai, where there are radiation treatment plants. Imagine now what transpires on that excursion. After harvest, these mangoes don’t usually last more than two days or two weeks. Additionally, the likelihood of spoiling increases by the time they reach these places. This extra transportation also results in increased expenses.

And this is the issue. For these mangoes to swiftly reach distant markets like the US or Europe, they must be flown by air. Cheaper delivery options are just not viable. So, when expenses mount, the mango export industry becomes significantly less profitable.

To make matters worse, producers may resort to using pesticides and chemicals that are prohibited to extend the shelf life of their mangoes as a result of this delay. However, there are stringent rules in place in the worldwide markets, particularly in the US and Europe, and any trace of these compounds could result in the rejection of entire consignments.

Thus, we are not only having infrastructure problems, but we are also endangering our standing as a trustworthy exporter.

And who stands to gain from our hardships, you ask?

None other than China, that is.

Yes!

Many Indian mango varieties, including Alphonso, Dasheri, Chausa, and Langra—many of which are also grown in Uttar Pradesh—have been covertly cultivated in China. And for the last two years, China has outpaced India in mango exports, believe it or not. For background, China exported $59 million worth of mangoes in 2023, which is almost 6% more than India exported in the same year.

And here’s the kicker. We may be partly to blame for some of this.

It’s not simply that our mango growers have trouble keeping their fruit fresher longer. It all stems from an amicable diplomatic ploy that India made to China in the 1950s.

China’s exports and mango cultivation weren’t always as successful. But, things turned amicable in 1955. As a show of goodwill toward his Chinese counterpart, the Indian Prime Minister at the time sent eight mango saplings of the Alphonso, Dasheri, Chausa, and Langra types. For the two spotted deer, red-crested cranes, and 100 goldfish that China had provided us, it was a charming return gift.

But, this friendship was short-lived. Relations deteriorated because of wars and border conflicts. And those young mango trees? They might have flourished in the southern Chinese provinces of Hainan and Guangdong, where the climate is ideal for growing mangoes. Years later, though, that diplomatic favour is now biting us in the rear as Chinese mango exports are eating into our own!

Yet, India—more especially, Uttar Pradesh—isn’t prepared to give up just yet. The infrastructure is the first to be targeted as the state gets ready for a mango revolution.

The UP government said last week that it would be constructing the first radiation treatment plant in North India close to the Jewar International Airport, which is located outside of Noida. Using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is how it is being done. It does make perfect sense. UP can expedite the export process, cut delays, lower expenses, and ease access to major markets such as the US and Europe by situating the facility near a major transportation hub.

The state is not going to stop there. It also intends to highlight the many health advantages of its aesthetically pleasing red mango variety. These fruits, which are high in antioxidants, are being promoted as a means of preventing obesity and age-related cognitive decline. This marketing strategy may appeal to consumers worldwide who are concerned about their health.

However, this is not UP’s first endeavour to enhance its export of mangos.

The government made it simpler for farmers to trim their mango trees without obtaining authorization a few months ago. Currently, pruning is the act of removing portions of the tree to promote healthy growth. Although it may seem like a little change, this is crucial for older mango farms. Farmers can better control their trees’ canopy—the upper, leafy part of the tree—by routinely pruning the trees. Furthermore, this may eventually result in improved fruit quality for export and increased mango harvests.

Thus, UP may soon reverse the trend for India’s mango exports. The timing is also ideal since Indian mango growers and trade associations are already bullish about 2024 and intend to surpass China in mango exports. To put things in perspective, India exported $49 million worth of fresh mangoes by May of this year, which is more than the country exported in 2022!

Will it be enough to help India become a more formidable exporter of mangos?

We sincerely hope so. As with any fine mango, though, we’ll have to wait and see just how sweet the result is.