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Aim at quality over quantity, mango farmers told

By Our Correspondent

CHITTOOR, FEB. 1. Though India is the largest producer of mango, its contribution to exports is minuscule, according to Galla Ramachandra Naidu, chairman of the Rajanna Trust Diguvamagam and managing director Amaraja Batteries.

He was addressing the district level seminar and training programme on mango organised jointly by Atma, Agriculture Export Zone Rajanna Trust and the Horticultural Department here on Tuesday. The Atma project director, Rajasekhar Naidu, presided over the seminar and Mr. Ramachandra Naidu was the chief guest.

Poor quality

He said that in spite of producing large quantities of the fruit, the district was lagging behind in quality and as a result failed to compete in the world market. Farmers were not adopting scientific methods in maintaining quality right from the flowering stage to harvesting.

He said the trees should be kept healthy by applying organic fertilizer. Excessive use of pesticides would also affect the quality and production. The farmers should take care through the stages of flowering, budding, bearing of fruit and harvesting. The Rajanna Trust would conduct seminars on these four stages to enlighten farmers.

He also called for scientific research to develop plants that yield fruits throughout the year instead of just three months. Research and packaging would play an important role in getting good income, he said.

By-products

There was 50 per cent wastage not only in mango but also in vegetables, which could be utilized for producing by-products, which would generate additional income. Besides this, an agreement among bankers, farmers and processing units was to be worked out to help farmers overcome their financial crisis.

The farmers' federation general secretary, G.V. Jayachandar Chowdary, said harvesting and packaging in a scientific manner at the orchard itself and sending the produce directly to the market would fetch more income for the farmers.

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Aim at quality over quantity, mango farmers told

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