Organized Mango Farming in India can Unlock Tremendous Financial Value

India stands as the world's largest mango producer, accounting for about 40% of the global supply. It has more than 1,000 mango varieties grown across its many climate zones and soil types. In addition to its economic importance, the mango, known as the "king of fruits," is ingrained in Indian culture. Mango leaves, which represent joy and prosperity, are frequently placed on entrances during auspicious events. Mangoes are more than just a crop, making them an essential component of the country's culture & customs. 

India boasts a vast mango landscape, with an area of over 2.2 million hectares and an annual production of ~ 20 million tonnes. Mangoes contributed around USD 4.8 billion to the Indian economy in the fiscal year 2023, demonstrating the huge economic impact. Key states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat are at the forefront of this cultivation.

With a supply season from March to August, the industry not only fulfils significant domestic and international demand but also supports millions of farmers, both small and big. Mango farming is largely unorganized in the country.  Nevertheless, there is endless potential in organized style mange farming in the country. 

1. Major Mango Producing States in India:

2. Mango Farming in India – From Soil to Shelf:

In India, growing mangoes is a rigorous procedure that is driven by tradition and modern methods. Here is a detailed look at how these fruits get from the orchard to the market 

ØSoil Requirements: Selecting the appropriate soil is the first step in the journey. The ideal pH range for mango trees is between 5.5 and 7.5 (it prefers slightly acidic soil). They flourish best on deep loamy and alluvial soils that are well-drained and rich in organic matter. For best growth, avoiding thick black cotton soils and alkaline/saline soils is crucial. 

ØIrrigation Techniques: Firstly, it is crucial to provide an adequate quantity of water. Basin irrigation is beneficial for young trees since it holds water in a basin around the trunk. Furthermore, effective techniques like drip irrigation and micro-sprinklers have been implemented for mature orchards to supply water straight to the root zone. Depending on the soil type and weather, irrigation is usually given every four to five days. 

 ØFertilizer Implementation: Appropriate nutrition is essential for fruit production and healthy growth. Compost and well-decomposed cow dung are two examples of organic resources that Indian farmers frequently add to their land. It is also crucial to apply vital nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in a balanced way. Based on soil tests and tree requirements, some fertilizers are applied, such as urea, NPK combinations, and micronutrients like boron.

 ØPest and Disease Control: Protecting the mango crop from pests and diseases requires constant work. Mango hoppers, termites, shoot loopers, seed weevils, and red spider mites are common dangers. Farmers use a variety of pesticides, such as fungicides like copper oxychloride and insecticides like Actara, to tackle these.

 ØHarvesting Methods: The harvest marks the end of the growing season. Mangoes are primarily harvested using specialized poles equipped with cutters or nets in India. The fragile fruits are protected from damage by this meticulous hand-picking. It is crucial to avoid direct sunlight after harvesting and to use clean sacks or newspaper inside baskets to protect the fruits from cuts and punctures. To stop latex from leaking, harvesters leave a tiny stem connected.

ØCleaning and Post-Harvest Handling: After being harvested, mangoes go through important post-harvest procedures. They are cleaned with chlorinated water to get rid of latex, dirt, and chemical residues. The fruits are then arranged according to their size, colour and general quality. Mangoes that have been graded and sorted are then packed in containers for delivery to marketplaces and customers.

3. Exploring India's Diverse Mango Varieties:

India's mango landscape is varied and dynamic, comprising 1000+ cultivated varieties. The country boasts a captivating variety of flavours, fragrances, textures, and regional preferences. Some of the strains have developed a national as well as worldwide reputation. The Alphonso from Maharashtra is one of the most renowned. Also known as the "king of mangoes", the variant has an unmatched richness and saffron tint. 

Dashehari from Uttar Pradesh is valued for its juicy, sweet flesh and fragrant appeal, while Kesar from Gujarat is notable for its distinctive sweetness and alluring perfume. Langra, which is grown in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and many places in West Bengal has a deliciously balanced sweetness and acidity. 

There is an abundance of regional specialities beyond these prominent names. Southern India is home to huge Bangalora (Totapuri) and the fiberless Banganapalli (Safeda). Varieties like Bombay Green and Samar Chausa are highly valued in Northern India. On the other hand, Western India produces distinctive varieties like Pairi, whereas Eastern India provides delicacies like Fazli & Kishenbhog.

Additionally, by blending the best characteristics of several parent species, organisations such as IARI have created hybrids like Amrapali and Mallika. 

4. The Mango Agribusiness Market of India – A Detailed Value Chain Analysis:

4.1) Wholesalers & Retailers: 

The strong network of wholesalers, mandis and merchants guarantees the extensive supply of mangoes in India. Azadpur Mandi (Delhi), Crawford Market (Mumbai), and Bowenpally Market (Hyderabad) are some of the major wholesale markets for mangoes in India. Furthermore, variety and quality determine pricing, with premium cultivars like Alphonso acquiring higher wholesale prices. Additionally, some wholesalers are using internet channels to reach a wider audience, making it more feasible to sell mangos online.

Moving forward, the retailers provide these mangoes to the end users through a variety of channels. The retail market is mostly led by independent fruit shops, which offer a diverse variety of seasonal mangoes. To meet growing demands, supermarkets, hyper markets and grocery stores also carry a wide array of mangoes with premium packaging options. Mango accessibility has been further increased by the growth of online merchants and e-commerce platforms, providing urban consumers with convenience. Retailers usually provide an extensive range of mangoes, and the prices are normally higher than wholesale prices.

 4.2) Thriving Food Processing Verticals:

Alongside raw consumption, there is a significant and expanding food processing industry in India's mango market. India is the world's largest producer and exporter of mango pulp at the primary processing level. Significant processing centers are positioned in the western and southern areas Tamil Nadu (Chittoor), Andhra Pradesh (Krishnagiri), Gujarat, and Maharashtra are the key processing clusters in the country. ITC Limited, Mother Dairy, Kay Bee Exports, ABC Fruits, Taj Agro, and Capricorn Food Products are some of the major companies driving this industry. Totapuri and Alphonso are the primary mangoes used for processing, accounting for around 90% of pulp production. The market for primary processed mango products like pulp and puree is expanding with rising consumer demand for natural and convenient fruit-based goods.

India also produces a wide variety of value-added goods through secondary mango processing. The base ingredients for many mango-based products are pulp and puree. Refreshing alternatives include juices and nectars, which are frequently combined with other fruits. Mangoes' inherent sweetness and texture are used in jams, jellies, and fruit bars. Additionally, raw mangoes are used in traditional Indian cuisines like pickles and chutneys, providing distinctive flavors and preservation techniques. 

While frozen mango chunks offer convenience and a longer shelf life, squashes and cordials offer concentrated fruit bases for drinks. Also, processing byproducts like starch and pectin has valuable applications. 

4.3) The Organized Mango Farming Landscape:

In India, organized mango farming has evolved into a major agribusiness force powering sector's economic expansion. By focusing on commercial-scale farming and the use of improved processes throughout the agribusiness value chain, the strategy goes beyond conventional approaches. 

Proactive pest & disease management, vigilant soil and water management and strategic market engagement are important components. To reduce losses and improve fruit quality, post-harvest verticals like processing, cold storage, and preservation receives an abundance of attention. This systematic shift has been facilitated through several types of models. For instance, "Mahamango" in Maharashtra, provides Alphonso farmers with collective marketing and post-harvest facilities. Additionally, "MANGROW" in Aurangabad, facilitates Kesar mango exports. These cooperatives supply necessary facilities like packaging structures and pre-cooling.

Corporate-backed initiatives are also becoming more popular. For example, IDH's "Project Farm Gate 2.0" seeks to establish sustainable procurement methods for Alphonso mangoes in the Konkan region. Also, businesses like dFarm use technology to improve post-harvest management and production. Significant push has been provided by state government programs, such as Bihar's Mango Development Scheme and subsidies for post-harvest assistance (fruit trap bags, boxes). As a result, the future of Indian mango cultivation is looking more productive, sustainable and efficient.

4.4) Ultra High-Density Plantation (UHDP) for Mangoes in India:

Ultra High-Density Mango Plantation (UHDP) can revolutionize mango agribusiness in India by facilitating substantially larger number of trees per acre. Generally, orchards can support up to 100 trees per acre, spaced 10 by 10 meters apart. UHDP, on the contrary, uses a more compact 3x2 meter grid layout, which allows 600+ trees to grow in the same space. The potential for significantly better yields and dependable harvesting is the key benefit of UHDP.

By encouraging trees to grow horizontally, UHDP stimulates more branching and early fruit production. By creating an optimum microclimate within the densely planted orchard, this efficient use of land increases productivity and help save water. Additionally, with UHDP systems, optimal sunshine exposure and fertilizer management can result in better fruit quality. Due to high density, labour cost can also be optimized. 

Mango agribusiness could benefit from higher profit margins by adopting UHDP. 

4.5) Navigating the Mango Export Landscape of India:

India exported a significant 32,104 metric tonnes of mangoes in year 2024, amounting around USD 60 million. USA, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, GCC, and South Africa serve as key export destinations for Indian mangoes. Alphonso, Totapuri, Kesar, and Badami are amongst the most popular varieties that are exported. Especially, Alphonso known for its outstanding quality, achieves the highest price in global marketplaces. Mango pulp also makes up a sizeable amount of India's agricultural exports in addition to fresh mangoes. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka are the main mango-producing states that act as export hubs. 

Reliance Industries Limited is a top exporter with its vast mango orchards in Gujarat, which is followed by “All Season Exports”, another major player in mango agribusiness landscape. While "Organic India Private Limited" specialises in organic mango exports, "Kay Bee Exports" focuses on shipping superior Alphonso and Kesar mangoes sourced from Maharashtra. Additionally, “Shreevali Agro”, a maharashtra based brand differentiates itself by exporting GI-tagged Alphonso mangoes. “

 4.6 Potential for Mango-based Agritourism in India 

As mango is intertwined so deeply with Indian culture and its way of life, there is tremendous potential for developing mango-based agritourism projects in the country. By building adequate lodging, logistics and recreational facilities inside large mango orchards and estates, one can develop viable tourism projects. In a time when experiential & immersive tourism are becoming popular, curated mango farmstays can become a lucrative business. 

Already in certain parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the concept of mango retreats is picking up. By staying in such places one can get acquainted with various nuances of mango farming. They can taste fresh fruits and juices, directly from farm. Besides there are also numerous other sporting and entertainment options. Such retreats and farmstays can be developed in numerous other parts of the country, where mango is produced at a vast scale. Farmstays and agritourism can also boost rural economy and offer better employment generation option(s) to local community. 

 How The India Watch can help 

 The India Watch is a leading market research, techno commercial study and market feasibility study advisory. Besides numerous key sectors in the country, we are also deeply involved in India’s growing agribusiness sector, catering to a wide range of clients from corporate houses & business owners to policy thinktanks & cooperatives. 

We offer a slew of services including but not limited to consumer behaviour research, tailor made market intelligence, techno economic viability studies, market & financial feasibilities, etc. 

If you are an entity planning to enter organized mango farming and/ or processing (or some part of its larger value chain) we can assist with you with our cutting-edge research and consulting advisory. We have a team of capable consultants, market researchers, analysts, agribusiness scientists, financial analysts that can offer you bespoke services and solutions, tuned to your requirements. 

• Our scope of work can include the following 
• Market insights and sizing 
• Market potential and demand assessment 
• Competitive insights
• Feedstock analysis and sourcing strategy 
• Procurement models 
• Identify key consumer segments 
• Consumer behaviour research, needs & want, market gap analysis
• Pricing analysis 
• Technical feasibility and process technology assessment 
• Technology partners and implementation roadmap 
• Location suitability evaluation 
• Regulatory and policy analysis 
• Financial modelling and ROI 
• Recommendations and growth roadmaps

For any further information, feel free to drop us a mail at info@theindiawatch.com  or fill the enquiry form mentioned given in the website. Someone from our team will soon get in touch with you.