Govt seeks market access for mangoes in South Africa

Seeking market access for mangoes, India has asked South Africa to fast track the process of pest analysis for the fruit.

The issue was raised by Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma during his meeting with South African counterpart Rob Davies at Johannesburg, an official in the Commerce Ministry said. Sharma was there for a two-day visit.

"India has requested that the concerned South African Authorities, who are in the process of conducting Pest Risk Analysis for import of mangoes from India, may expedite the process and consider granting market access to Indian mangoes as our request of market access is pending for a long time now," the official said.

In September 2010, the country had forwarded technical information for market access of mangoes to the South African National Plant Protection Organisation, the official said, adding India has again sent an additional information in October 2011 which was sought by South African authorities.

"Thereafter there has been no response from the South African side," the official added.

According to agri-export promotion body APEDA, India's mango exports are expected to rise marginally to 70,000 tonnes this year on expectation of better availability of the export-quality fruit.

The country is estimated to have exported 65,000 tonnes of mangoes in 2010 season (March-July).

The country's total mango production was at 15-16 lakh tonnes during 2011.