editorialteam
New Member
Provides production and marketing support to mango growers
“We have introduced novel modes to help farmer attain detailed know-how on growing mangoes to get best possible quality and quantity of the fruit. Apart from the routine programs such as technical workshops and field day we began a series “Seeing is Believing” where farmers are taken to thriving mango farms and research institutes in different states. To augment the mango sales we have started ‘Mango Mela’, ‘Mango Online Sales’ and ‘Mango Tourism’ for the farmers. Furthermore this is the first time we have initiated to export mangoes to USA and other countries,” shares Mr. Kadire Gowda, Managing Director, Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation (KSMDMC).
KSMDMC, a Government of Karnataka enterprise came into existence on January 2011 to support mango farmers in the state. Activities of the organization are directed to enhance the overall development of mango crop cultivation, post harvest management, marketing and export of mango fruits to benefit the mango growers. It is located at Bangalore, Karnataka. Organization has also set up two mango development centres. One at Hogalagere Horticulture Farm, Sreenivasapura, Kolar District while other at Moodikere Horticulture Farm, Chinthamani, Chikkaballapura District. “We maintain pack house at these centers where mangoes are graded, undergo hot water treatment and packed for exports,” he adds. “We are giving farmers some incentives such as special mango varieties developed by IIHR minister of Horticultural Research. They are even provided with ripening chambers and plastic waste for transportation.”
Organization is eased with acreage under mango cultivation in the Karnataka state hence the focus is on marketing and production assistance. Annual production is more than 15 lakh metric ton, “This is sufficient for us. We are concerned most about the quality and increase in productivity,” asserts Mr. Gowda. Approximately there are one lakh plus farmers growing mango as the main crop having an average land holding of minimum two hectares.
Largely 5-6 mango varieties are forever in spotlight. “Alphonso, Banganapalli, Kesar and Malgoa are all table varieties. Alphonso is primarily for exports. Kesar takes the second place with demand for exports as well as domestic market followed by Malgoa and Banganapalli. Thothapuri and Neelam variants are considered as juice variety hence draws lot of attention from mango processors,” elaborates Mr. Gowda.
Mangoes are grown in abundance but till it reaches the end-customers it is either very expensive or spoilt! KSMDMC takes every possible effort to bridge the gap between grower and consumer. Therefore three new marketing programs were introduced and all received an overwhelming response.
Speaking about the innovative program ‘Mango Online Sales’, Mr. Gowda says, “We got good orders of 7 - 8 ton from Bangalore itself while little quantity orders from Sirsi. We clocked minimum order of 6 kg and the price was fixed at Rs. 65/kg for Alphanso, Rs. 60/kg for Kesar while Banganapalli Rs. 50/kg.”
‘Mango Mela’ is organized in almost all the states growing this fruit. Mango Tourism was the main attraction held in June end this year! “100 people were taken to the farms for mango picking. Registration was done through website on first come first basis. One person one basket and minimum purchase was 6 kg,” he adds.
Now as the mango season is over organization is concentrating on increasing the production in the existing cultivation area. Training programs are being organized for the farmers. “We conduct pre-harvesting and post-harvesting training sessions across 15 mango growing districts. In order to ensure farmers are implementing the learning we have appointed field assistants who monitors the cultivation and coordinates with us,” asserts Mr. Gowda.
To increase mongo productivity growers are trained on water conservation techniques such as bund, terracing etc. They are also taught about rejuvenation of old plantation converting unwanted seedlings seeds into seeds of desirable varieties by providing supplementary irrigation. They are given the confidence to take up high density or ultra-high density planting system, micro irrigation and fertigation system. “We promote scientific canopy management as well because it balances the vegetative growth corresponding to the yield. We help farmers with mechanization in cross cultivation, use of growth regulator on flower induction,” he says.
Farmers are encouraged to take up chemical free farming practices. KSMDMC offers special micro nutrient used exclusively as manure for mango trees. It is developed by IIHR. “It is a foliar spray, applied 3 times in a year precisely first in August-September, second spray in November-December and last spray in January-February,” highlights Mr. Gowda. This micro-nutrient mixture is only available at KSMDMC. It is sold at Rs.60-65 per kilogram after deducting the 50% subsidy amount.
“In pre-harvesting training schedule we forbid the farmers from using potassium carbide to ripen the mangoes instead recommend the natural process or ethylene gas,” he claims.
As of now next year same marketing programs shall be continued, of course with increase in the numbers. “First year itself we received good response therefore next season we are expecting scaled participation from the consumers. We want farmers to earn what they deserve and at the same time we wish consumers relish the fruit every year. Our efforts are consistently driven to achieve these two end goals,” concludes Mr. Gowda.
Prior to joining KSMDMC Mr. Kadire Gowda served as Director of Horticulture and HOPCOM Managing Director.
Contact Details:
Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited,
Kaveri Bhavana, ‘F’ Block, 2nd Floor, KG Road, Bengaluru – 560009
Phone No. : 080 – 22236837, 09148447032
Email: ksmdmc@gmail.com
Web: http://www.ksmdmcl.org/
“We have introduced novel modes to help farmer attain detailed know-how on growing mangoes to get best possible quality and quantity of the fruit. Apart from the routine programs such as technical workshops and field day we began a series “Seeing is Believing” where farmers are taken to thriving mango farms and research institutes in different states. To augment the mango sales we have started ‘Mango Mela’, ‘Mango Online Sales’ and ‘Mango Tourism’ for the farmers. Furthermore this is the first time we have initiated to export mangoes to USA and other countries,” shares Mr. Kadire Gowda, Managing Director, Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation (KSMDMC).
KSMDMC, a Government of Karnataka enterprise came into existence on January 2011 to support mango farmers in the state. Activities of the organization are directed to enhance the overall development of mango crop cultivation, post harvest management, marketing and export of mango fruits to benefit the mango growers. It is located at Bangalore, Karnataka. Organization has also set up two mango development centres. One at Hogalagere Horticulture Farm, Sreenivasapura, Kolar District while other at Moodikere Horticulture Farm, Chinthamani, Chikkaballapura District. “We maintain pack house at these centers where mangoes are graded, undergo hot water treatment and packed for exports,” he adds. “We are giving farmers some incentives such as special mango varieties developed by IIHR minister of Horticultural Research. They are even provided with ripening chambers and plastic waste for transportation.”
Organization is eased with acreage under mango cultivation in the Karnataka state hence the focus is on marketing and production assistance. Annual production is more than 15 lakh metric ton, “This is sufficient for us. We are concerned most about the quality and increase in productivity,” asserts Mr. Gowda. Approximately there are one lakh plus farmers growing mango as the main crop having an average land holding of minimum two hectares.
Largely 5-6 mango varieties are forever in spotlight. “Alphonso, Banganapalli, Kesar and Malgoa are all table varieties. Alphonso is primarily for exports. Kesar takes the second place with demand for exports as well as domestic market followed by Malgoa and Banganapalli. Thothapuri and Neelam variants are considered as juice variety hence draws lot of attention from mango processors,” elaborates Mr. Gowda.
Mangoes are grown in abundance but till it reaches the end-customers it is either very expensive or spoilt! KSMDMC takes every possible effort to bridge the gap between grower and consumer. Therefore three new marketing programs were introduced and all received an overwhelming response.
Speaking about the innovative program ‘Mango Online Sales’, Mr. Gowda says, “We got good orders of 7 - 8 ton from Bangalore itself while little quantity orders from Sirsi. We clocked minimum order of 6 kg and the price was fixed at Rs. 65/kg for Alphanso, Rs. 60/kg for Kesar while Banganapalli Rs. 50/kg.”
‘Mango Mela’ is organized in almost all the states growing this fruit. Mango Tourism was the main attraction held in June end this year! “100 people were taken to the farms for mango picking. Registration was done through website on first come first basis. One person one basket and minimum purchase was 6 kg,” he adds.
Now as the mango season is over organization is concentrating on increasing the production in the existing cultivation area. Training programs are being organized for the farmers. “We conduct pre-harvesting and post-harvesting training sessions across 15 mango growing districts. In order to ensure farmers are implementing the learning we have appointed field assistants who monitors the cultivation and coordinates with us,” asserts Mr. Gowda.
To increase mongo productivity growers are trained on water conservation techniques such as bund, terracing etc. They are also taught about rejuvenation of old plantation converting unwanted seedlings seeds into seeds of desirable varieties by providing supplementary irrigation. They are given the confidence to take up high density or ultra-high density planting system, micro irrigation and fertigation system. “We promote scientific canopy management as well because it balances the vegetative growth corresponding to the yield. We help farmers with mechanization in cross cultivation, use of growth regulator on flower induction,” he says.
Farmers are encouraged to take up chemical free farming practices. KSMDMC offers special micro nutrient used exclusively as manure for mango trees. It is developed by IIHR. “It is a foliar spray, applied 3 times in a year precisely first in August-September, second spray in November-December and last spray in January-February,” highlights Mr. Gowda. This micro-nutrient mixture is only available at KSMDMC. It is sold at Rs.60-65 per kilogram after deducting the 50% subsidy amount.
“In pre-harvesting training schedule we forbid the farmers from using potassium carbide to ripen the mangoes instead recommend the natural process or ethylene gas,” he claims.
As of now next year same marketing programs shall be continued, of course with increase in the numbers. “First year itself we received good response therefore next season we are expecting scaled participation from the consumers. We want farmers to earn what they deserve and at the same time we wish consumers relish the fruit every year. Our efforts are consistently driven to achieve these two end goals,” concludes Mr. Gowda.
Prior to joining KSMDMC Mr. Kadire Gowda served as Director of Horticulture and HOPCOM Managing Director.
Contact Details:
Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited,
Kaveri Bhavana, ‘F’ Block, 2nd Floor, KG Road, Bengaluru – 560009
Phone No. : 080 – 22236837, 09148447032
Email: ksmdmc@gmail.com
Web: http://www.ksmdmcl.org/
Last edited by a moderator:
