India develops technology to export premium mango variety by sea without compromising on quality

India has developed sea shipment protocol technology for mango export by sea to make the product more price-competitive without compromising on quality, as the first-ever commercial shipment of a premium variety has reached Singapore after a 13-day voyage. 

The consignment comprising five tonnes of Banganapalle mangoes from Andhra Pradesh was exported by M/s Osum Food Solutions LLP on 11 June and reached Singapore on Wednesday (24 June).

Banganapalle, one of India's most renowned mango varieties, is prized for its golden-yellow colour, pleasant aroma, fibreless pulp and rich sweetness. The variety enjoys strong demand in international markets.

"On reaching Singapore, the importer, EC-Links Pte Ltd, of that country, reported excellent fruit quality, appreciating the mangoes for their sweetness, uniform ripening, shelf life and overall phytosanitary condition," said the Indian commerce ministry.

The consignment successfully met all import requirements, demonstrating the effectiveness of scientific post-harvest management practices and cold-chain logistics during sea transportation, it said.

Behind the successful shipment to Singapore lies the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-affiliated Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH) in Lucknow.

Under this initiative, the mango consignment was exported through a reefer container, said the Indian agriculture ministry yesterday (25 June).

The protocol technology integrates an end-to-end quality assurance system covering residue-free production, good agricultural practices (GAP), scientific harvesting, grading, packing and post-harvest management.

The exported fruits underwent hot water treatment and CISH-Met Wash, an ICAR-CISH-developed technology that enhances shelf life, minimizes disease incidence, and maintains fruit quality during long-distance transportation, the Ministry said.

The orchards where the exported mangoes were grown have been scientifically monitored by ICAR-CISH experts from fruit set to harvest using residue-safe production practices and ICAR-CISH-developed biocontrol technology, "Fusicont." The fruits were tested for quality and maximum residue limits before packaging.

ICAR-CISH has successfully extended mango shelf life to up to 30 days under sea shipment conditions.

The Singapore consignment completed its journey in about two weeks and the fruits arrived in excellent condition with disease-free incidence and quality comparable to air-shipped mangoes, according to the ministry.

The success of this shipment is expected to facilitate the expansion of Indian mango exports to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other markets where current imports are estimated at $4–5 million. In larger markets like the UAE, imports are valued at $20–25 million.

What also adds to the competitiveness of mango export by sea route is that it offers a substantial reduction in logistics costs compared to air cargo. The transportation cost by sea is estimated at Rs13–20 per kg compared to Rs150–250 per kg by air, said the agriculture ministry.

The entire consignment was handled in accordance with the quality and phytosanitary requirements prescribed by Singapore.

The export also generated substantial economic benefits for farmers. While domestic market prices ranged between RS 25-26 per kilogram, the export consignment fetched about Rs 50 per kilogram, said the Commerce Ministry.

The Agriculture and Commerce Ministries expect the shipment to Singapore by sea to encourage wider adoption of maritime transport for horticultural exports from India to global markets.