Farmers are experiencing success in exports of mangoes PRAYAGRAJ: The famed Dussehri and Chausa mangoes from Pratapgarh district have gained immense popularity in Dubai and Oman, captivating international consumers with their exceptional taste and aroma. Since their export began three years ago, demand has been growing steadily. This season, tons of these mangoes are set to be exported to meet the increasing demand from these countries.Mango farmers like Prabhakar Singh from Shahpur village and Avneesh Singh from Kunda, Pratapgarh, have found success in exporting their produce. Avneesh, who has been involved in fruit export for four years, owns a 22-bigha mango orchard and leases an additional 80 bighas. He started exporting mangoes to Oman in 2022 with a small shipment of one ton, which received a positive response. Encouraged by this, he expanded his exports to Dubai in 2023, sending a total of five tons. The same volume was exported last year, and in 2025, both countries have placed new orders for Dussehri and Chausa mango varieties.Likewise, Prabhakar owns over 100 mango trees. “A medium quality harvest yields around 800 kilos of Chausa per tree and 400 kilos of Dussehri. This year, the yield will be more, giving us handsome profits,” said Singh.Mango exports from the region have shown a steady increase, with 2 quintals exported in 2022 and 5 quintals in 2023. Although exports were lower in 2024 due to a poor harvest, farmers are optimistic this year, expecting to export 6-7 quintals of mangoes.The mango exports are facilitated through pack houses in Lucknow and Varanasi, as none are available in the Prayagraj division. Despite incurring additional transportation and packaging costs, the exports yield up to 25% higher earnings compared to local market sales.A crucial factor behind this success is the adoption of fruit bagging technology. This method involves covering mangoes with protective wax-lined paper bags while they’re still on the tree, shielding them from pests, dust, sunburn, and wind damage. As a result, the mangoes develop better color, shine, and overall quality, making them more appealing in international markets due to their improved appearance and durability.The Uttar Pradesh govt has taken note of this advancement and is now providing financial support under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Registered farmers can receive a subsidy of Rs 25,000 per hectare for adopting fruit bagging technology, which is expected to further enhance the quality of mango exports.Deputy director of horticulture, Krishna Mohan Chaudhary, stated that mangoes are cultivated over 2,100 hectares in the Prayagraj division, with Pratapgarh being the largest cultivation area. He emphasized that sustained growth in mango exports, coupled with technological support, will not only boost farmers’ income but also strengthen the global presence of Indian mangoes.No brick kilns allowedThe Kunda and Kalakankar blocks have been designated as fruit belts, prohibiting brick kilns and smoke-related businesses. Since its designation 15 years ago, the mango crop has shown improvement, and the benefits have been sustained over time. As many as 84 villages in Kunda block and 63 in Kalakankar — 143 villages — are protected in the fruit belt.
