Bengaluru: In a first, mango corporation to get X-ray machine for quality check

Bengaluru: In a bid to help farmers export the best-quality mangoes and bring their losses to zero, a Bengaluru-based machine vision startup has collaborated with the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) to develop India’s first mobile auto defect detector for the ‘king of fruits’.

The collaboration between ICAR-IIHR and the startup Zentron Labs has been sponsored by the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, with the agreement to provide one of these X-ray machines to the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL). The product was on display at the National Horticulture Fair 2025, organised by the ICAR-IIHR at Hesaraghatta after it was launched on Thursday. 

The machine works by taking X-rays of the mangoes placed inside the crate to assess internal quality and identify issues such as seed weevil damage and spongy tissue, which are not obvious nor visible on the outside.

The machine can grade nearly 10 tonnes of the fruit daily and uses Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to compare the X-ray imaging with the ideal quality. It is also equipped with a 15-inch touchscreen display for real-time monitoring.

While the machine is not yet commercially available, and will not be at least for the next two years, it will be available on lease to farmers and companies to test the quality of their mangoes at Rs 30 per dozen, noted company representatives present at the stall on Friday.

This is especially of use to grade Alphonso mangoes, which are in great demand worldwide.

“Traders, farmers and consumers will benefit from such technology because this will help them avoid any losses that come from defective products,” explained Jagadeesh Sunkad, strategic marketing and collaboration officer, Zentron Labs.

He added that this would also incentivise farmers to grow good quality mangoes, fetching them higher monetary returns. “Exporters will be able to build India and Indian Mango brands around the world.”

Besides, the company has also created lane-based and compact optical graders that will segregate round fruits by size, colour, weight and any visible defects. These machines will be delivered to the KSMDMCL, along with the internal defect detector, this mango season so they can test and properly grade mangoes produced in the state for exports.

These graders, which cost at least Rs 25 lakh per unit, have a capacity of up to one tonne an hour and can also grade apples, dragon fruits, pomegranates, tomatoes and other round fruits.

The machine with the cabinet at the National Horticulture Fair 2025.

The portable machine on the back of a truck.