Decks cleared for export of mangoes to Japan

Tirupati, May 20: Mango exports to Japan from Chittoor district would fructify with the inauguration of exporting facility by the Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh at Renigunta airport near here today.

After laying the foundation stone for Vapour Heat Treatment Plant (VHTP) at the Agricultural Market Yard in January last, the minister fulfilled his promises by inaugurating the mango transport facility to Japan, official sources said.

To provide better prices to the mango farmers in Chittoor, Kadapa and Nellore districts, which account for the bulk production, he laid the foundation stone for Rs 10 crore worth VHTP on January 6 last to export quality mangoes to Japan and other countries.

Mr Ramesh said expansion of airport to create facilities for cargo flights to export farm produce to foreign countries and an establishment of a cold storage plant near airport is under progress.

Chittoor district, which was on an equal footing with Krishna district, vis-a-vis production in the state, was also famous for the Banganapalle(Benisha) variety.

Andhra Pradesh Export Development Authority (APEDA) had already studied the possible venues for expansion and was focusing on the Japanese market.

The VHTP had remained a non-starter and despite agro- industries asking for five acre land for construction of the plant, the marketing department had agreed to provide only three acre.

The authorities had made the necessary arrangements to export the first consignment of one tonne mangoes from here to Japan by using a private VHTP, the sources added.

UNI