Global Kokan Mango Festival 2018 from 2nd May – 8th May 2018 at Nehru Science Centre, Worli
- 15 key Farmer Co-operative Associations from Devgadh, Ratnagiri, Kelshi to capture the direct market at the Farmer’s Mango Bazaar in Mumbai
- Mango Convention to highlight topics like Mango Cultivation, Farming technology, GI tag for Alphonso mangoes, export market & mmore..!!
Mumbai, 1st May 2018: Kokan Bhumi Pratisthan, Nehru Science Centre and Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Govt of India in association with Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) & Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) are hosting the Global Kokan Mango Festival 2018 from 2nd May – 8th May 2018 at Nehru Science Centre, Worli in Mumbai. This largest platform made available for the buyers in Mumbai and direct farmers from Konkan region aims at creating an open & straight market for Organic Mango Farmers, Producer Companies & Farmer Co-operative Associations from across the region. In the wake of FDA seizing huge quantities of artificially ripened mangoes, in the city this initiative by Kokan Bhumi Pratisthan is a boon. Almost 15 key Farmer Co-operative Associations from Devgadh, Ratnagiri, Kelshi alongwith Ratnavasundhara & Sindhudurg Farmer producer Association representing 100 mango farm owners are all set to capture the direct market of naturally ripened, authentic alphonso mangoes made available for the mango lovers in Mumbai at the 7-day fair at Nehru Science Centre.The inaugural day of the event will see flagging off of the Farmer’s Mango Bazaar & Convention which will highlight topics like Mango Cultivation and Farming technology, critical infrastructure set up for export of mangoes like hot water treatment facility, vapour heat treatment facility and irradiation facility will also be showcased thus providing an enriching platform for mango producers and cultivators for better growth of the fruit.
The country's mango exports are estimated at over 50,000 tonnes last fiscal. The main export destinations include the US, the Middle- East, Japan and the European Union (EU). Mr. Sanjay Yadavrao, Founder, Kokan Bhumi Pratishthan shares, “The aim of the event is to educate & create awareness on organic & naturally ripened mangoes. Also, it will highlight and appeal to the government for the much-needed GI tag for the Alphonso (Hapus) breed of mangoes which is the monopoly of the Konkan belt thus boosting the export market and curbing the sale of fake alphonso mangoes in the name of Alphonso for the benefit of the farmer and not the supply chain. The GI-tagging for the Alphonso mango will surely protect its exclusivity and distinctiveness, going forward".
He further adds, “With support from APEDA and other partner organizations, the programme will thus facilitate the export market for the farmers directly. About 30 leading importers from these countries are participating in the event”. Mumbai receives a major chunk of its Alphonsos from Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, and Raigad in Maharashtra. Other varieties in demand in the city are Pirie, Badami, Kesar, Lalbag, and Totapuri. Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are also major contributors for different breeds.
The event will see dignitaries like Shri. Subhash Deshmukh, Minister of Cooperation Marketing and Textile, Government of Maharashtra), Shri. Madhav Bhandari, Cabinet Minister, Relief & Rehabilitation, Shri Vijay Gautam,Principal Secretary at Government of Maharashtra (GoM) and Shri Prashant Waghmare, Assistant General Manager, APEDA amongst others.