East Singhbhum mangoes reach London and Saudi Arabia
Parvinder Bhatia
Jamshedpur
In a significant boost to East Singhbhum’s agricultural sector, the district exported its first international consignment of mangoes to London, opening global market opportunities for local farmers. Around 1.5 tonnes of mangoes were shipped with the support of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Ranjan flagged off the consignment from the Collectorate, describing the export as a milestone that would help increase farmers’ incomes and create new avenues for agricultural growth. He said the administration is working to expand global market access for the district’s agricultural and horticultural products through quality production and adherence to export standards.
The export was facilitated by APEDA, while a local Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) coordinated the collection and supply of mangoes. Quality testing and packaging were carried out as per international export norms.
Officials said the initiative would enable growers to secure better prices and encourage adoption of farming practices aligned with global market requirements. The administration has also pledged continued support for future agricultural exports.
The achievement follows the successful export of mangoes from Patamda to Saudi Arabia and has strengthened efforts to promote other local products internationally. Under the Birsa Harit Gram Yojana, nearly 6,000 acres of orchards with Amrapali and Mallika mango varieties have been developed, significantly boosting production.
Mangoes grown by progressive farmer Ashok Kumar Mahto were recently showcased at Mango Mania festivals in Jeddah and Riyadh, receiving an encouraging response. Authorities are also planning to promote the newly introduced Banana Mango variety in international markets.
The district administration is now focusing on branding premium cashews from Bahragora and Chakulia, which together produce nearly 50,000 quintals annually. Women members of FPOs are being trained in modern processing and value-addition techniques through exposure visits to cashew-processing units in Odisha. Efforts are also underway to explore export opportunities for organic vegetables grown in Patamda and Bodam, known as the “Vegetable Bowl of Kolhan.”
