Keshar tickles the taste buds abroad

"We have sent the first container of 150 tonnes to Japan. A team from Australia has also arrived in Aurangabad to place orders for the fruit," MGA Chairman Trimbak Pathrikar said.

He said nobody knows as to how the Keshar of Junagarh in Gujarat landed on the Marathwada soil. Its export potential importance was realised when the world market started its demand on large scale.

 

The story began in 1996 when the first container of Keshar was sent to London. With its 97 per cent shelf life the orthodox Britishers were highly enthused with the arrival of Keshar in the market.

After twelve years, Keshar has established its taste in London. It was the real encouragement for the 70 MGA members, who made a mission to export Keshar, despite heavy odds.

Pathrikar said it all happened due to the dedication of the group of 11 farmers initially, who decided to export the Keshar, although at times they faced heavy losses.

However, MGA is now exporting Keshar to Japan, Hongkong and the US.

However, it was a feather in the cap of MGA when a team from Australia came to Aurangabad and gave the order after observing Keshar's potentials.

Pathrikar, however, expressed his unhappiness against the government for not establishing an export facility centre at Aurangabad. The government had promised to establish an Agro Export Zone of Keshar Mango at Aurangabad, Jalna & Beed.

Considering Keshar's potential the government should take instant steps to establish an export facility centre at Aurangabad.

It will boost the morale to produce more Keshar and be a boon for the drought prone area of Marathwada region, he added.