Create marketing points in Malihabad, Saharanpur and Varanasi: Experts

LUCKNOW: The government needs to create at least three mango marketing points in Malihabad, Saharanpur and Varanasi on public private partnership (PPP) basis to sustain the value chain concept of mango on a similar pattern as it is for grapes and oranges in Maharashtra, opined experts during the twoday meet held at CISH, under the auspices of Indian Council of Agricultural Research on Tuesday.

H Ravishankar, director, CISH (Lucknow) underlined that his effort was to help mango farmers and all stakeholders get value for their money. RR Hanchinal, chairman, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, government of India appreciated farmers’ efforts for conservation of valuable mango varieties other than ‘Dussehri’, ‘Langra’ and ‘Chausa’.

S Ayyappan, secretary DARE (Department of Agricultural Research and Education) and director general, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, government of India stressed the need to enhance mango production of the country to the tune of 25 million tones which is currently around 17 million tonnes.

Farmers raised the problem of market linkages and low price of their produce in local markets.

They requested to make some arrangement of sendi ng Dussehri mangoes t o south Indian markets just as ‘Banganpalli’ is sold in north Indian markets.