India attempts trial sea shipment of mangoes

In order to reduce the transportation charges of its mango exports to Italy, India is attempting the sea route via the state of Uttar Pradesh. A trial shipment of 10 tonnes of the ‘Chausa’ variety of mangoes has already been sent by sea through this route. The consignment was sent from Lucknow to Pipavav port in the western state of Gujarat by road, to reach Italy via Spain. While the cost for exporting mangoes by air turns out to be around Rs 120 per kilogram, the charges for the same via sea are Rs 28 per kilogram and the voyage will take around 20-22 days. This initiative is an outcome of a “Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM)’ organised in Lucknow on June 26-27 by APEDA.