ICAR-APEDA Sea Shipment Protocol Revolutionizes Mango Exports
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research's Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH), Lucknow, in collaboration with APEDA, has successfully developed and implemented a scientific sea shipment protocol for mango exports that significantly reduces logistics costs while maintaining fruit quality. This breakthrough enables affordable large-scale mango exports to international markets.
A consignment of 4.3 tonnes of Banganappalli mangoes from Andhra Pradesh was successfully shipped to Singapore via reefer container, arriving in excellent condition after a 16-day journey. The sea route offers substantial cost advantages, reducing logistics costs to ₹13–20 per kg compared to ₹150–250 per kg for air shipment, making exports more viable for producers and exporters while ensuring affordable prices for overseas consumers.
The comprehensive protocol integrates an end-to-end quality assurance system covering residue-free production, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), scientific harvesting, grading, packing, and post-harvest management. The technology includes Hot Water Treatment (HWT) and CISH-Met Wash, an ICAR-CISH-developed technology that enhances shelf life, minimizes disease incidence, and maintains fruit quality during long-distance transportation.
Quality metrics demonstrated exceptional results: the fruits arrived with 20.1°Brix TSS (Total Soluble Solids), nil disease incidence, and quality comparable to air-shipped mangoes. ICAR-CISH has successfully extended mango shelf life to up to 30 days under sea shipment conditions, with orchards scientifically monitored from fruit set to harvest using residue-safe production practices and ICAR-CISH-developed biocontrol technology FUSICONT.
The successful shipment is expected to facilitate expansion of Indian mango exports to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and other markets where current imports are estimated at US$4–5 million, while also creating opportunities in larger markets such as the UAE, valued at US$20–25 million. This development strengthens India's mango export ecosystem, enhances farmers' incomes, improves export competitiveness, and promotes sustainable growth of the horticulture sector.