In 2016–17, Karnataka produced nearly 10 lakh tonnes of mango and exported the fruit to the U.S., Australia and other countries. But it is only now that the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation has hit upon the idea of setting up full-fledged fruit “ripening chambers”.
These chambers, which promote natural ripening, are expected to wean farmers away from using calcium carbide, a carcinogen, for the process.
The chambers will also be used for bananas. Each new chamber will be able to hold a tonne of mangoes or bananas. “We have a budget of ₹10 crore for this. The government, through the Department of Horticulture and the mango development corporation, will offer 60% assistance towards the development of these ripening chambers,” said Kadire Gowda, managing director of the corporation. The chambers will be set up jointly by the agricultural produce marketing committee, the Department of Horticulture and the mango development corporation.
Currently, there are only 30 ripening units across the State. It is a woefully small number to cater to the mango and banana collection points. The new ripening chambers will be set up at fruit collection points, including in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chickballapur, Ramanagaram, Tumakuru, Davangere, Haveri, Dharwad, and Belagavi. “We are inviting investors to come forward for setting up the chambers where ethylene will be used for ripening. This will help the market leap forward the natural way for health benefits and also exponentially increase the export market that depends so much on export promotion labelling processes,” said L. Gopalakrishna, chairman of the corporation.
While the corporation is also looking at minimum support price for growers, the larger healthier assistance year-on-year would be the setting up of ripening chambers, claim officials, who said the facility would result in the fruit to be harvested in phases and avoid a glut in the market.
These chambers, which promote natural ripening, are expected to wean farmers away from using calcium carbide, a carcinogen, for the process.
The chambers will also be used for bananas. Each new chamber will be able to hold a tonne of mangoes or bananas. “We have a budget of ₹10 crore for this. The government, through the Department of Horticulture and the mango development corporation, will offer 60% assistance towards the development of these ripening chambers,” said Kadire Gowda, managing director of the corporation. The chambers will be set up jointly by the agricultural produce marketing committee, the Department of Horticulture and the mango development corporation.
Currently, there are only 30 ripening units across the State. It is a woefully small number to cater to the mango and banana collection points. The new ripening chambers will be set up at fruit collection points, including in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Chickballapur, Ramanagaram, Tumakuru, Davangere, Haveri, Dharwad, and Belagavi. “We are inviting investors to come forward for setting up the chambers where ethylene will be used for ripening. This will help the market leap forward the natural way for health benefits and also exponentially increase the export market that depends so much on export promotion labelling processes,” said L. Gopalakrishna, chairman of the corporation.
While the corporation is also looking at minimum support price for growers, the larger healthier assistance year-on-year would be the setting up of ripening chambers, claim officials, who said the facility would result in the fruit to be harvested in phases and avoid a glut in the market.