India: State government to ban calcium carbide mango ripening
Md Israr Ahmed, director of marketing at the agricultural marketing department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, explained, "This time we have a large quantity of mango produce and right now meetings among farmers and consumers are being conducted in various districts to create awareness on using ethanol instead of calcium carbide for ripening."
He added, "Further to the meetings, a government order will be issued on the ban of using carbide for ripening and it will be ensured that the order is adhered to throughout the state."
Ahmed admits, "If 100 kg are going out of the state, at least, 95 kg of them are ripened with carbide and the rest by better means like ethanol. However, the traders have been made aware of the massive losses - mangoes ripened with carbide rot in 3-4 days - that they have to bear for attempting to save some money in using carbide, which is very cheap compared to other means."
He say the National Horticulture Mission offers 25 per cent subsidy for using pack houses, ripening chambers and permitted means like ethanol for the purpose of ripening. Ensuring that the use of calcium carbide can be successfully avoided.
Source: www.fnbnews.com
