For the mango producers in Uttar Pradesh, who have been hit by poor production this year, has at least one reason to cheer as exporters from the state have bagged off-shore deals to export the 'Nawab' brand of the 'Dussehari' mango to Russia and Kuwait.
   
"Two exporters have received export orders from Moscow and Damam in Kuwait," Deputy Director Marketing in UP Mandi Parishad M K S Sachan told PTI. He said while 100 tonnes of mangoes would be exported to Moscow from Malihabad, a consignment of another 15 tonnes from Amroha will be send to Damam.
    
"It will be for the first time when mango would be exported to Russia," he said. Sources said last year around 46 tonnes of mangoes was exported to foreign countries including Japan, Malyasia, Singapore and Damam from the state. "In terms of quantity Uttar Pradesh is one of the biggest mango producing state in the country with total share of 20
per cent," he said.

Prominent varieties of mango to be exported from the two mango growing belts of the state Lucknow and Mango include Dussehari, Langra and Chausa. "This year the mango production had declined drastically causing a serious concern for the exporters," chairman of Mango Export Promotion Council Insram Ali said. Ali said last year total mango production of the state was 30-35 lakh tonnes.
    
"This year it had dropped to 2-4 lakh tonnes in Malihabad, though situation is slightly better in Saharanpur," he added. "Considering the low mango production in the state,
getting offshore orders is encouraging," a senior Mandi Parishad official said. He said the Parishad had been exporting mango to foreign countries including US, China, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Hongkong, the UK, Singapore and Malyasia under Nawab brand
name from the last six years.
    
"However, due to tough norms mango export from the state has not been able to mark its presence in the international market a per the expectations," he said. This had been despite the fact that the Mandi Parishad had been making efforts to match the international standards.

"In a bid to provide better facilities to exporters two mango pack houses were set up in Lucknow and Saharanpur. In fact to meet Japanese standards a Vapour Heat Treatment Plant was also set up in Saharanpur," the official said. Besides, various other initiatives like hike in transport subsidy were also taken by the state government.
   
"Till now subsidy was given on supply of Dussehari, Langra and Chausa mango, but now it is being offered on all the varities," he said.