Mandi Parishad’s effort may bear fruit for mango growers

Efforts on to tie up with Dubai retail chain, which has agreed to buy select vegetables from UP

LUCKNOW: After the European Union (EU) imposed a ban on Indian mangoes and some vegetables due to concerns over presence of pests in consignments arriving from the country, the Mandi Parishad is helping farmers get newer markets, especially in the Gulf countries.

A delegation from Dubai’s popular retail chain, Lulu Group International, visited the Malihabad mango belt here on the initiative of the Parishad and a private individual, Rajeev Srivastava to help mango growers sell their product directly to international buyers.

Umesh Mishra, deputy director, Mandi Parishad, said the UP government is offering subsidy to promote export of ‘Nawab’ brand mangoes to foreign land.

“Despite less production this year due to inclement weather, 23 metric tonnes (MT) of mangoes have already been exported to various Gulf countries. And another consignment of 12 MT of mangoes will be dispatched soon,” Mishra told HT.

He added that now efforts are on to tie up with the Lulu retail chain, which has agreed in principle to buy select vegetables from UP farmers.

For this, the Mandi Parishad has involved those engaged in export business.

The Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow has also interacted with the international retail chain and offered to be a knowledge partner and facilitate a platform where farmers and buyers may directly interact and negotiate business dealings.

H Ravishankar, director, CISH said, “We are ready to help farmers grow their produce as per international standards and norms so that they may get good

DESPITE LESS PRODUCTION THIS YEAR DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, 23 METRIC TONNES (MT) OF MANGOES HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPORTED TO VARIOUS GULF COUNTRIES. AND ANOTHER CONSIGNMENT OF 12 MT OF MANGOES WILL BE DISPATCHED SOON UMESH MISHRA, deputy director, Mandi Parishad

returns.”

The delegation from Lulu group visited Mango Pack House in Malihabad and took stock of the farmers’ produce. They were fairly satisfied with the quality of mangoes.

Salim and Zulfikar from Lulu Group said after negotiating mangoes they will strike a deal with farmers growing vegetables.

Rajeev Srivastava, who organised this interface with the international retail chain, said his only interest is to see that farmers are benefited.

HT FILE PHOTO There was less production of mangoes in Uttar Pradesh this year due to inclement weather in March.