PANAJI
In what will be good news for those growing mangoes in the State, an All Goa Mango Growers Association has been set up to promote local mangoes and to bring Goa mango farmers under one banner.
The association is also expected to get a GI tag for the famous Mancurado mango of Goa.
"Membership to the association is open to all. Farmers need to have at least one or two mango trees to join the association,” said Deepak K Parab, Nodal Officer, Patent Information Centre, Goa State Council for Science and Technology.
“The association has also filed an application for GI tagging of the Mancurado mango. The process is almost over and the Goa Mancurado mango is expected to get the GI tag shortly. Since we are sure to get the GI tag, the commercial marketing process of the Mancurado mango has already begun,” said Parab.
“Next year, the registered Goa Mancurad producers from the State will export Mancurado mangoes to Dubai with the GI tag on the mangoes. A GI tagged mango will offer good price and assurance of quality to farmers,” said Parab.
After Mancurado, the association has a target to get GI tagging for the Monserrate and Hilario varieties of mangoes.
"The NABARD has granted financial assistance for GI registration process for the four Goan products, the Bebinca, Sat Shirancho Bendo (Ocra), Macurado mango and Kunbi Saree. All patent applications are filed except Kunbi Saree which is pending,” said Parab.
When contacted, Nestor Rangel, secretary of All Goa Mango Growers Association, said the association is young having been formed barely 6 months ago.
“At present, there are 40 plus members in the association and we appeal to mango farmers to join the association,” said Rangel.
He said the Goan Mancurado mango is facing competition from mangoes grown in Vengurla. “The farmers there grow mangoes on large scale and sell mangoes at a low price in the Goan market. This has forced a reduction in the price of mangoes in Goan market, which affects mango producers in Goa,” said Rangel.
"The GI tagging of the Goan Mancurado mango can help us to overcome this problem.”
Nestor said the association will try and promote Goan mangoes, as farmers have been following good and healthy practices in the State.
“In Maharastra, pesticides and other chemicals are sprayed 10-15 times to get good yield of mangoes. However, such mangoes are not good for health. As an association, we will try to promote mangoes grown locally and naturally,” said Rangel.
“The association will promote the good local variety of mango called Cardoso Mancurado,” he added.
