Karnataka's Kolar mangoes make debut air shipment to Maldives, fetch farmers better prices

In a significant first for Karnataka's horticulture sector, an air shipment of around one metric tonne of Totapuri and Neelam mangoes from Kolar district has been exported to the Maldives. The consignment, flagged off on July 30 by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, marks the first time these mango varieties have been sent directly from Karnataka to an overseas destination.

According to a senior officer from APEDA’s regional office in Bengaluru, earlier such exports were routed through Andhra Pradesh and Chittoor. “For the first time, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with APEDA head office, took personal interest to flag off the harvest from Karnataka to Maldives,” the officer said. The official also highlighted APEDA's broader role in promoting exports of GI-tagged products, including vegetables, fruits, and millets, and described this as the first-ever air shipment of Neelam and Totapuri mangoes from the state.

The export has brought tangible benefits to local farmers, who have been grappling with distressingly low prices for Totapuri mangoes in the domestic market. While Totapuri was fetching only ₹3 to ₹4 per kg locally, the export price stood at ₹30 per kg. Similarly, Neelam mangoes, which sell for around ₹30 per kg in local markets, earned ₹72 per kg in this shipment. “Though it is not a huge quantity, farmers have been paid well,” the APEDA official noted.

Ashwini A., director of Ahalya Devi Ventures, the exporting company, said that the consignment was prepared with strict adherence to APEDA's quality parameters. “I started the company one month ago. This is the first shipment exported from our company. Keeping various quality parameters assigned by APEDA in focus, these mangoes were selected so that we get a positive response from importers. Positive feedback can help farmers export more mangoes next year since the season has ended now,” she explained.

Abhishek Reddy, a farmer whose 12-acre farm supplied the mangoes for export, expressed relief despite a difficult season. “This year, farmers, including me, have undergone huge losses by growing Totapuri. Fortunately, my farm has multiple varieties, including Neelam, Totapuri, and Mallika. I was able to recover 50% of the losses through export,” he said. He urged the local government to take similar initiatives to open up more export opportunities for Kolar's mango farmers, describing it as “the last hope” for the region. “Farmers will be able to earn double the price than what they earn in local markets,” he added.

The development comes at a time when Kolar district, known for its mango production, has been facing a crisis of falling prices due to oversupply and limited market access. While the volume of this first shipment is modest, it represents a potential pathway for farmers to access international markets and improve their livelihoods. APEDA officials indicated that if the quality is well-received in the Maldives, more such shipments could follow in the next season, providing a sustainable alternative to the distress sales currently witnessed in local markets.

The export also underscores the growing role of small and new enterprises in agricultural trade. Ahalya Devi Ventures, which was launched just a month ago, managed to navigate the complexities of export logistics and quality certification, setting an example for other entrepreneurs in the region. With continued government support and exporter engagement, Karnataka's mango farmers may find new hope in overseas markets, reducing their reliance on volatile domestic prices.