Retail mango outlets to come up at Bengaluru's tech parks this season

For the first time, the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL) will set up mango retail outlets in tech parks in the city during the Bengaluru mango mela to be held in third and fourth week of May.

The aim is to help those working in tech parks to purchase mangoes directly from farmers, said KSMDMCL Chairperson  Kamalakshi Rajanna. Talks are on with companies to finalise the venue and timings for setting up the retail outlets.

Details of farmers selling mangoes are being posted on the corporation's website so that techies and other Bengalureans can contact the growers directly and place their orders. The prices of mangoes at the retail outlets will be same as that at the mela.

Techies will have an opportunity to interact with farmers and understand their experiences, she added.

Mangoes from various parts of Karnataka are in high demand across the globe. To increase exports, KSMDMCL had written to the Malaysian government. The Malaysian embassy had shown interest to purchase mangoes.

Following this, KSMDMCL requested the Australian government last week and got a positive response.

On Thursday, an Australian delegation visited  Innova Agri Bio Park Limited at Malur in Kolar district to get a first hand information on mango processing.

Rajanna said that the team comprising Bohuelava Zeman, Counselor Agriculture, Australia High Commission, Dr Aishwarya Radhakrishnan, senior research officer, Australian High Commission, Dr D K Ravindra, DGM of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) inspected the hot water treatment plant, Gamma Irradiation and packaging unit.

They conducted Gamma Irradiation on mangoes and took along with them three cartons, each containing three kgs of Alphanso mangoes. They are likely to place their order in the coming week.

Next in line to visit the Malur plant is a team from the USA. The team will be touring with us from May 9 to 13.

They have shown interest to visit the bio- park, inspect the treatment units, processing and packaging units. They have also shown interest to visit mango orchards before placing their orders,” she added.