Gandhinagar: The mangoes of Gujarat, especially the Kesar mangoes loved across the state, are also making waves internationally. This becomes known from the figures as mango farmers from Gujarat have exported more than 856 metric tons of mangoes during 2024–25. Moreover, in the last five years—from 2019–20 to 2024–25—over 3,000 metric tons of mangoes have been exported from the state to various countries, including America and South Africa, an official statement said today.

In this regard, Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel stated that the popularity of Gujarat’s Kesar mango is continuously increasing. To meet the growing global demand, the state government is providing various incentives for mango cultivation in Gujarat.

As a result, out of the total area of over 4.71 lakh hectares under horticultural fruit and flower crops in Gujarat, mango alone is cultivated in more than 1.77 lakh hectares, accounting for about 37 percent of the area. Thanks to the favorable climate and diverse soil conditions in the state, in addition to Kesar mango, several other mango varieties such as Hafus, Rajapuri, Totapuri, and Sonpari are also grown, the Minister added.

The Agriculture Minister further informed that the highest mango cultivation in Gujarat is found in the districts of Valsad, Navsari, Gir-Somnath, Kutch, and Surat. During 2024–25, the highest mango cultivation was recorded in Valsad district with 38,000 hectares, followed by Navsari with 34,800 hectares, Gir-Somnath with 18,400 hectares, Kutch with 12,000 hectares, and Surat with over 10,200 hectares.

Kesar mango from Talala Gir in Gujarat is world-famous for its quality and has been granted the GI (Geographical Indication) tag. Apart from Gir, the cultivation of Kesar mango has also expanded to Kutch, the Minister noted.

Notably, the Gujarat Agro Radiation Processing Facility Unit, established by the state government at Bavla, has irradiated around 224 metric tons of Kesar mangoes this year and exported them abroad. This gamma radiation unit at Bavla is the first in Gujarat and the fourth USDA-APHIS certified e-radiation unit in the country. Over the past five years, around 805 metric tons of mangoes have been irradiated and exported from this unit.

It is worth mentioning that earlier, to export fruits like mangoes, farmers from Gujarat had to send them to Mumbai for gamma irradiation. This process often led to fruit spoilage and increased transportation costs. With the commissioning of the Bavla unit, farmers can now irradiate their fruits locally and secure better prices by exporting them directly. DeshGujarat