Mangoes, other fruit can fetch higher dividends

With horticulture emerging as the one of the best options for addressing the concern of food, nutrition and healthcare, the focus has now shifted to horti business in the country through new innovation on mangoes and other fruit having high nutrients and medicinal values.

H P Singh, deputy director general (horticulture) at the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) told Business Standard since horticulture is contributing 30.4 percent to the agricultural sector, efforts are on to promote fruit in demand so farmers can also fetch good dividends and impetus be given on commercialisation.

For example, Bangalore-based Natural Synergy has started producing tablets from the leaves of mangoes to control high cholesterol, said Singh. “This company is producing tablets which can be taken as food supplement to control high Cholesterol,” said Singh.

 

Similarly, researchers of ICAR have also produced oil from mango kernels. “Our initial research shows such oil can be used for skin care,” said Singh. The centre would soon facilitate the commercial use such oil by launching a pilot project.

Horticulture production in India has grown to 231.5 metric tonnes this year from 98 million tonnes 20 years ago.

Singh said similar research projects on guava and papaya were also being taken up by ICAR. “The basic idea is to boost the horticulture sector in order to provide food security to the country,” said Singh.