War, climate change hits Dharwad's mango exports

Hubballi, 

What began as a highly promising season for mango exporters in Dharwad has ended in severe distress, as geopolitical tensions and unpredictable weather patterns decimated both crop yields and international trade opportunities. Members of the Mango Growers Association in Dharwad reported massive setbacks, exporting only a fraction of their intended target to international markets this year. According to representatives from the Mango Growers Association, the initial enthusiasm was palpable.

Over 20 international buyers including 10 major exporters from the UK, US, Singapore, and Gulf nations visited Dharwad in March and early April. Extensive physical and online meetings were held, with buyers expressing strong interest in importing the region's produce. However, these promising negotiations largely failed to materialize into bulk orders due to the ongoing global war situation and its economic fallout.

Speaking to News Trail, honorary president of the Association, Dr Rajendra Poddar said, despite a successful 1-ton trial export last year, Dharwad farmers only managed to send about 5 tons of mangoes to Singapore this season. The target for the year was originally set be tween 20 to 50 tons. The primary culprit behind the collapse of these export deals was the drastic surge in transportation costs linked to global conflicts.

Freight rates spiked almost threefold, jumping from Rs 250 to Rs 450 per kg for Gulf countries, and from Rs 450 to Rs 750 per kg for the US. Furthermore, logistical bottlenecks caused significant issues, with trucks and shipping containers carrying thousands of crores worth of material getting stuck at Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port.

"Because of the war, there is psychological, political, and economic uncertainty. The transport cost has increased almost three times. Even in markets like the US, local demand suddenly fell," said Dr Poddar. Adding to the exporters' woes, extreme weather conditions drastically reduced  relief package for mango crop loss, similar to the NDRF package already announced by the Maharashtra government". 

Building the 'Dharwad Alphonso' Brand

Despite the grim season, local farmers are looking toward the future with a focus on adopting "climate-resilient mango production technologies". To meet stringent international parameters, farmers plan to heavily focus on reducing pesticide residue, managing spongy tissue diseases, and improving water and canopy management. Additionally, the Mango Growers Association has launched a dedicated digital platform to directly connect buyers and sellers, allowing international buyers to place indents well in advance of the season. Farmers remain hopeful that if geopolitical tensions ease and climate conditions normalize next year, the "Dharwad Al phonso" brand will firmly establish its presence in the global market.