Shortage of air freight hinders export of mangoes from India

A LACK of air freight space has hindered the export of the Kutchi Kesar variety of mango in the Bhuj border district in the Indian state of Gujarat.

"There is no air cargo service from Ahmedabad to West Asia and the western world. Even if we send 1,000 boxes by road from here to Ahmedabad, the passenger planes lift only 300 to 400 packets for want of space," Batusingh Jadeja, who exports this variety of mango, was quoted as saying in a report by Daily News & Analysis (DNA).

According to Mr Jadeja, a huge quantity of export quality mangoes could not be exported this season because there is no air cargo facility.

He said that a team of National Horticulture Board (NHB) officials has visited Kutch and were told that despite the Kutchi Kesar variety of mango being in great demand in the west and a bumper crop this year, the fruit could not be exported in large quantity because of the non-availability of air transport.

Mr Jadeja said that although he is one of the big growers and exporters of Kutchi Kesar, he could export only 40 tons to Muscat and 50 tons to London.
(source:www.schednet.com)