Covid-19 impact: Fruit, veggie exports to fall 30-40% on global lockdown

India's fruits and vegetable exports are likely to decline by 30-40 per cent during the ongoing grape and mango season due to global lockdown that has been implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a lockdown (a measure similar to curfew) for three weeks beginning March 24 has brought the entire value of fruits and vegetables to a standstill. Despite several efforts to revive mandis, distribute essentials and instruct ports to facilitate exports, the situation is far from normal.

"Farmers have prepared early mango crops - Hapus or alphonso- for exports. Many in