First shipment of Indian mangoes on way to Japan

New Delhi, June 30 (UNI) The first shipment of Indian mangoes to Japan, after the East Asian country lifted its ban on them on June 23, is on its way from Mumbai today.

The varieties of mangoes identified for exports to Japan are alphonso, banganapalli, kesar, langra, chausa and malika, grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, UP and Maharashtra.

Other varieties like Dussheri are likely to be included in the permitted category, an official release said here.

India secured the market assess for mangoes to Japan only after protracted negotiations between experts and officials and the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

From India, the Agriculture Ministry, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarnatine and Stortage, Faridabad and those of APEDA, were involved in the discussions.

Japan had imposed the ban in 1986 suspecting pest infestation by flies. However, after a Japanese team of specialists visited India earlier this year and inspected the fruit, it was found that there was no risk of disease and pests.

UNI/JSS RA VV2012