Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board : Export Promotion

ACHIEVEMENTS

Mango Export :
We have started export promotion from the year 1998. Agro product viz. mangoes, grapes, pomegranates, mandarins, banana, rice, flowers were exported in the past few years. We have developed technology for exporting mangoes by CA containers with the help of APEDA, New Delhi and exported two containers of Alphonso and Kesar mangoes to UK and one container to Singapore in the year 1998. One more CA container of Kesar was exported successfully in the year 2000.

This year MSAMB has exported 6.5 MTs Kesar mangoes to Hongkong, which is re-exported to china. This is new opportunity to Kesar mango growers in the form of new market.

Our promotional efforts for the export of the various items are as under.

Grape Exports: The MSAMB promoted an organisation called MAHAGRAPES to boost the export of grapes. MAHAGRAPES is regularly exporting around 50-60 containers to Europe and Middle East, for past 10 years. MSAMB also helped farmers co-operative societies to establish their own pre-cooling and cold storage units, by providing them technology and guidance. From the year 2003 the Packhouses which are being used for Grape export shall be recognised by APEDA and MSAMB will concentrate on quality standards which is in process.
Pomegranate Exports: Regularly exporting pomegranates of various co-operative societies to UAE, for past four years. In the season 2003-04 Mahagrapes had already exported 208 MTs Pomegranates and in return Mahagrapes have earn Rs. 1 crores and 17 lakhs. The pomegranate export was limited upto Gulf and middle east countries but the demand will be increasing day by day from European countries.
Mandarin Exports: The Nagpur mandarin is a loose Jacket orange and to ensure that it reaches distant markets with least post-harvest losses during shipping, it must be devoid of pre-harvest infection by fungal organisms and skin attachments must be tight for prolonged shelf life. The Nagpur mandarin has unique features easily seperable skin and segments from each other, comparatively low seed content and low acids.
Exports of mandarins from India is not a common phenomenon. In the history for the first time one trial container of Nagpur Mandarins was sent to UAE in the year 2002, and it reached in very good condition. This has shown way to the farmer of Nagpur. To increase the export of Mandarin from Maharashtra MSAMB has carried out export to Holland and which is newer market for Nagpur Mandarin.MSAMB has successfully exported (two 40' container) having 36 MTs of Nagpur Mandarins till Feb. 2005.
Banana Exports: For the first time for export of banana, a farmers marketing organisation, Mahabanana, has been established by MSAMB in the year 2002. One 40” container was exported to UAE and the results are very encouraging.
MSAMB has exported the banana 16 MT In Feb'2005 to Dubai through 40' Refer container from Mahabanana,Jalgaon.But still there is need of improvement in pre harvest-post harvest management practices in banana.For the same MSAMB is working by setting up of precooling, coldstorage and modern packhouse facilityin the banana growing area.
Recently, Government of India has declared Agri. Export Zone for Banana, MSAMB has appointed as a nodal agency for AEZ. The districts covered under AEZ are Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Dhule, Hingoli, Parbhani, Nanded, Buldhana and Vardha.
Now MSAMB has proposed to create modern packhouse for Banana at Raver, Dist. Jalgaon and Basmatnagar, Dist. Hingoli which includes mechanical handling system, pre-cooling, cold storage and ripening chamber.
Lemon and Sweetlime Export:MSAMB has exported Lemon(5.96 MT) and Sweet Lime (3.9MT) through mix container of 20' container to Dubai. Through this trial export we realised that there is a better scope of export of Lemon and Sweetlime in Gulf countries.
Flower Export :MSAMB has exported the Gerbera and Carnetion flowers through 5 air consignments (Total 27,100 stems) to Singapore.These flowers were get availed from Ajinkyatara Phule,Phale Va Bhajipala Utpadak Sahakari Sangh, Satara.Through this export we got the lighthouse way for export of flowers from Maharashtra.

We have also completed facilities which includes modern pack house, pre-cooling and cold storage at Vashi, Navi Mumbai & Kudal, Dist. Sindhudurg for export of various agricultural products. These facilities are available for the exporters to use at a nominal cost.

MSAMB took initiative to establish Agricultural Export Zones (AEZ) in Maharashtra. Accordingly submitted proposals to Government of India and got approval for the AEZs for Alphonso, Kesar, Onion, Pomegranate, Banana and Mandarin. MSAMB is acting as a Nodal agency for these AEZs.

Participation in Exhibitions :
Due to the support of the MSAMB in respect of technical guidance and intervention, export has increased manifolds. In order to promote mango export, MSAMB has participated in the international events viz. Mango Promotion Program- 2002, which was organized by APEDA at UK and Germany. In the year 2003 also, MSAMB has participated in the International Food, Drink & Hospitality Exhibition (IFE 2003), which was held at London. MSAMB also participated in ANUGA Foodtec, 2003 which was held at Cologne, Germany. In both these events mangoes were displayed for the promotion along with the other agricultural products. Due to continuous efforts of mango promotion export of mangoes from Maharashtra has been increased from 13,000 MTs to Approximately 16,000 - 18,000 MTs in the last two years.

International Food Exhibition (IFE 2005), Londan : The exhibition was organised in between 13-16 March 2005 at excel, Londan MSAMB has promoted a Alphanso mango in the State.

International Flora Expo 2005, Banglore : The International floriculture exhibition organised by APEDA & NHB between 1-3 July 2005 at Banglore. Leading exports from India and abroad (Netherlands, Germany, UK, Israel, Japan, Singapore, UAE, Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan) would address the emerging issues in global floriculture production & trade. MSAMB has participated in the said exhibition and discussing the trade regarding new emerging markets with importers.

IITF-2004, New Delhi : MSAMB has paticipated in India International Trade Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi organised by ITPO,New Delhi, held between 14th to 27th Nov.2004. In this exhibition MSAMB exibits and sold the agricultural products of various Co-operative Societies from Maharashtra state. It included Mango Pulp, Mango Jam, Kokam Syrup, Jamun syrup,Cashewnuts,Banana etc.

(IITF-2004,New Delhi)

Kisan -2004 : MSAMB has participated in 'Kisan-2004' the agriculture exhibitions held in Pune between 3 to 7 Dec.2004. Through this exhibition the representatives explained the various schemes of MSAMB to visitors.