Chikkaballapur to get centre to help mango farmers in post-harvest care, exports

A first-of-its kind Post-Harvest Centre has been set up by the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Ltd  (KSMDMCL) at Madikere in Chikkaballapur district. The centre, also called the Forward Linkages Centre, will help mango growers in post-harvest management and to improve export potential of mangoes.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, chairperson of Karnataka State Mango Development Board, M Kamalakshi Rajanna said: “The centre, spread across 10 acres, will soon get post-harvest and processing units which include sorting and grading, washing, hot water treatment, ripening, packing, palletisation and processing technologies. For this, the mango corporation has appointed CFTRI-Mysuru as the Technical Service Consultant.”

She said that through the post-harvest centre, mango growers will be trained through demonstrations and training on how to ensure quality of mangoes post-harvest, preserving them by adopting various technologies.

The cost of the project is Rs 7.15 crore and the post-harvest and processing units will be set up in three months for which Rs 3.15 crore has been set aside.

“The export potential of state-grown mangoes has not be realised since scientific production technologies, including post-harvest aspects, have not be adopted. Hence, such a centre has been set up,” added Kamalakshi Rajanna.

The state has exported 5,000 tonnes of mangoes, this year and the board has set a target of 15,000-20,000 tonnes for next year. Karnataka stands third among mango growing  states in terms of the area and production. The major varieties grown in the state are Alphonso, Banganapalle, Kesar, Sindhura and Dasheri.

The newly constructed Post-Harvest Centre will be inaugurated by Minister for Horticulture and Agriculture Marketing SS Mallikarjun at 2.30 pm on Monday.

Mango pulping centre

The Mango Development Corporation is contemplating starting a mango pulping centre in the state and a proposal has already been sent to the state government.

The cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 30 crore. Similarly, there are also plans to start a Mango Export Centre and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has already given directions the Mango Board in this regard and conveyed it to the state  government.