Australia, Israel, and India will collaborate to develop a comprehensive roadmap aimed at enhancing the yield and quality of mangoes

Lucknow : A symposium titled ‘National Dialogue on Mango Improvement and Strategies’ is set to take place on Saturday, September 21, at the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Rehman Khera (affiliated with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute). The event will bring together leading mango scientists, breeders, and biotechnology experts from India, Australia, and Israel to devise a future roadmap for enhancing mango productivity and quality.

While this symposium will benefit mango growers across the country, it holds particular importance for Uttar Pradesh, which leads in mango production.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is focused on this sector, given the high demand for popular varieties such as Dussehri from Malihabad (Lucknow) and Chaunsa, a late-ripening variety grown around Saharanpur in western UP. With improved quality, these mangoes have significant export potential.

The Yogi government is also establishing an export hub near Jewar International Airport, alongside the construction of cold storage facilities and ripening chambers in agricultural markets to preserve produce for fruit and vegetable farmers.

Dr. T. Damodaran, Director of the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, said, “The institute is adopting a cluster approach to drive improvements. Around 4,000 farmers have been organized into clusters focused on the two prominent mango varieties. These farmers are being trained in canopy management techniques to rejuvenate their orchards, which are often over 15 years old. This practice is expected to increase both yield and fruit quality over time.”

Ashish Yadav, Secretary and seminar organizer, mentioned that the institute’s fruit protection and water-resistance techniques have received positive feedback from growers. He added, “By using paper bags to cover the fruit, the risk of disease and insect damage is reduced, preventing blemishes and enhancing the color of ripe mangoes. At a cost of just two rupees per bag, these treated mangoes can fetch double the price in the market.”

Mango cultivation is a significant source of employment for lakhs of people in Uttar Pradesh. The adoption of fruit protection and water-resistance techniques is expected to boost local employment opportunities. Initially, these protective bags were imported from China, and currently, most come from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. However, production has also begun in Meerut and other UP cities. As demand grows, local manufacturing will expand, further creating jobs.

According to Ashish Yadav, the seminar will feature Dr Natalie Dillon, Senior Biotechnologist, Dr Ian S.E. Balli, Senior Horticulture Specialist from Queensland, Australia, as well as Dr Yuval Cohen, a researcher from Israel’s Volcani Institute, and Dr V.B. Patel.

The seminar promises to be a valuable resource for both scientists and farmers involved in mango research and cultivation.