In a
strange move, European union has suddenly denied Visa to a King from
India. But general public in India is not complaining. There is no
resentment even. On the contrary everyone seems to be in celebratory
mood. Well! This time the King is no ordinary human being, he is the
King of Fruits, none other the famed Alphanso Mango grown on west
coast of India. European Union has banned the import of Indian
mangoes, including the famed Alphonsos, from May 1, 2014. But why are
people in India happy because of this ban? Simple reason is that this
ban has resulted into a glut in supply and is pushing down the
prices in the local market much to the delight of all domestic
consumers.
EU
decision, based on a report that said that new Pests were found in
207 consignments from India in 2013, certainly borders on the extreme
caution. In last week of March 2014, after finding fruit flies in
some consignments, EU announced the ban on Indian mango imports. In
response, Indian Government made checks and certification mandatory
for exports of Mangoes on April 2014. However the EU was unmoved and
continued with the ban. A review of the measures will only take place
before December 31, 2015. European market for mangoes from India(
with major share contributed by the UK) is for 4,000 tonnes of
mangoes during the season from Maharashtra state of India itself. In
UK, the market for the fruit is worth nearly 6 million pounds a year.
For
European Union and UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, this ban represents just 5% of the total fresh fruits and
vegetables imported into the EU from India and is statistically
insignificant, For them the potential danger of new pests could pose
a threat to EU agriculture and production. In UK it could threaten
the country's 321-million pound salad crop industry of tomato and
cucumber. But for a mango lover, the ban means something far more
important than mere numbers. For example for every person in India,
hot summers are always associated with mangoes. People welcome summer
heat just because it also brings mangoes to the market.
In our
house garden in Pune, we used to have at least 9 or 10 mango trees of
different varieties. There were local variety trees, known as
'Raiwal' and 'Pairee,' and also another south Indian variety called
as 'Shendri.' But the most favoured of all, by almost everyone in the
house, were mangoes from two trees belonging to a variety known as
'Hapoos' or 'Alfanso,' named after a 16th century Portuguese
traveller to India, Afonso de Albuquerque. He led Portuguese
invasions into India in the 1600s, and the Portuguese introduced the
mango variety through grafts on mango trees.
Afonso
de Albuquerque
Some
of the other mango varieties from our house garden were such that the
fruit, after ripening would either still taste very sour or the
fruits would have very fibrous texture. We never allowed these
mangoes to ripen. They were cut or shredded when raw and used for
making pickles and some fantastic coolers. 'Raiwal' was a miniature
variety, where the fruits used to be very small sized and had such
little pulp inside, that we could easily finish 20 to 24 fruits in
just one sitting. Yet they had a unique distinguished taste loved by
us. In spite of having so many varieties of Mangoes in the garden,
'Alfanso' mangoes were always considered as the supreme variety and
loved by all. We were never satisfied with, what was produced in our
house garden and my grandfather would always buy from the market,
large wooden boxes containing 4 or 5 dozens of Alfanso mango fruits
in the months of April and May every year, to satisfy our ever
growing liking for the king of fruits, The Alfanso mango.
Originally
grown in Goa, Alfanso mangoes soon travelled across, to many parts of
western India. Alfanso mangoes are now mainly grown in Konkan region
of the state of Maharashtra in India, a narrow strip of land between
Arabian sea on west and west coast mountains in the east. In fact
they are so famous that sometimes it is difficult to buy top quality
fruit in the land where they grow, as almost all the produce is sent
to Mumbai. Alfanso mangoes are routinely exported to several
countries, including Middle east, South east Asia, Britain and the
United States. The middle east market is nearly 10 times the
European market . Exports are booming at the moment to middle east
but the Middle East market, including Dubai is expected to get
saturated in coming one or two weeks.
All
these developments mean only one thing. The good quality, premium
mangoes, being exported presently, would be diverted into local
market and since there is likely to be an oversupply, the prices
would crash and bring this King of fruits within reach of a common
manor “ Aam Admi.” Within a week from EU's announcement, the
prices of Alkhanso Mangoes have dropped by Rs. 500 per box of 4 or 6
Dozens from previous price of Rs. 3000 per box. in Mumbai. Times of
India reports that the Mango season is just picking up and more than
600 truck loads are arriving in Mumbai's wholesale market at Vashi
bringing in more than two hundred fifty thousand boxes to the market.
As it
is, the prices of mangoes drop in Indian markets by month of May.
Because of the EU ban, we can expect prices to drop further and make
them available to common. As India consumers benefit, not everyone is
happy in Europe. Time of India has quoted Indian-origin British MP
Keith Vaz saying: "This is Euro nonsense and bureaucracy gone
mad. Indian mangoes have been imported to Britain for centuries. I am
furious with the lack of consultation with those who will be affected
by the ban.”
Whatever
may be the reactions from Europe, its loss is a gain for common man
in India, as he would be able to enjoy his favourite fruit this year
to his heart's content. I am sure that there would be millions of
Indians, that includes me too, who would say “Thank You EU. You
have made our summer this year.”
30th
April 2014
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