For the second consecutive year, Indian mangoes will be absent from US retail markets. First, the Covid-19 pandemic hampered exports last year. This year, the failure of the two governments to come up with a workable solution has put exports on hold. This break in the market access for a country that has shown consistent growth over the past few years can have a lasting impact over the exports in the years to come.
Unlike in European Union, Indian mangoes gained access to US markets only after 2007. Exports remained subdued till 2011, after which there was good growth in exports. Consistent yearly growth helped exporters get greater access to US markets. Consignments to US have to undergo a process called irradiation, which involves exposing the fruit to rays of a weak radioactive element.
Kaushal Khakhar of Kay Bee Exports, said that in the case of US, diplomacy might not have worked to break the deadlock. While EU and US were coveted markets for Indian exporters, the latter was a growing market while the former had reached its peak, he said. “A sudden halt to a new market would surely raise questions about its sustainability,” he told indianexpress.com.
