The season’s initial lot of Malawi mangoes, which is identical (both in taste and shape) to Alphonso mangoes of Konkan region, from South Africa arrived at the APMC market in Vashi on Saturday. The mangoes landed here this time much earlier than the previous year. The first consignment had come on November 25 last year. A shipment of 598 boxes had arrived in the market and was sold in the range of Rs 4,500-5,500 per box at the wholesale yard instantly.
The next consignment is expected to arrive at Vashi market yard over the next weekend which may be sold a bit cheaper, said traders. The season of these mangoes in the Indian market will be from mid-November to mid-December by the time the Indian Alphonso takes over the local markets.
The mangoes were sold to Mumbai retailers and semi-wholesalers who booked their requirement with the APMC wholesaler a few days back. Each box comprises around 3 to 4 kg and 10 to 16 pieces. The season of the Malawi Mangoes does not clash with the season of the local mangoes from the Konkan coast. Malawi mangoes come during November and December, while Indian Alphonso starts arriving in January-February. The first consignment has been procured by Vashi-based wholesaler N D Pansare and Sons and Annora Imports and Exports which is marketed by Sai World Australia.
“The prices will drop gradually once regular consignment arrives with more quantity in the coming days. The harvest is good this year and the season will last till December end. We are expecting increase in volume from last week of November,” said Sanjay Pansare, head of N D Pansare and Sons. Malawi started growing the ultra-high-density Indian variety alphonso mangoes of Dapoli breed from Konkan Coast in as many as 400 acres farm, while planting around 400 plants per acre, which is completely drip irrigated.
Six years back, India had entered the league on importing this mango at comparative domestic prices of Konkan’s Alphonso.
“In 2012, the breed (sapling) of Indian Alphonso was sent to Malawi from Ratnagiri district which took five years to grow and the inaugural produce was exported to Dubai in 2017,” said Pansare.