After Japan, Nepal bans Indian mangoes. What’s wrong?

Nepal has imposed restrictions on the import of Indian mangoes after border quarantine inspectors found excessive pesticides. The ban could impact exports of premium Indian varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Langra, Banganapalli, among others

A roadside vendor arranges mangoes while waiting for customers in Amritsar on June 30, 2022. File Photo/AFP

Nepal has banned Indian mangoes over alleged excessive levels of chemical pesticides. The Balen Shah government’s move could drive up the prices of mangoes in the Himalayan kingdom as traders fear a paucity.

Last month, Japan halted imports of Indian mangoes after its inspection team found irregularities in production at the South Asian country’s facilities. While Nepal and Japan are not key markets for the juicy fruit from India, the ban is a setback for mango exporters.

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Let’s take a closer look.

Nepal bans Indian mangoes

Nepal has imposed a ban on the imports of Indian mangoes after border quarantine inspectors found excessive pesticides and a lack of quarantine facilities in the border areas.

The restrictions imposed by Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock have reportedly been in place since April-May.

As per a PTI report, the government banned the import of Indian mangoes, which contained excessive pesticides, and due to the absence of quarantine facilities in the border areas, particularly the Madhesh province.

How ban will impact Nepal

Nepal is itself a producer of mango. Its exports of the juicy fruit are higher than its imports. However, domestic production is not sufficient to meet the local demand.

Mangoes are produced between mid-May and mid-July in Nepal. Siraha, Saptari and Dhanusha districts in the Madhesh province are the country’s major mango producers.

Nepali authorities say the restriction on Indian mangoes will benefit domestic fruit varieties.

Manish Kumar Pal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Madhesh Province, told The Rising Nepal that the move will provide greater opportunities for locally produced, “healthier fruit”.

“The federal government’s decision will provide additional encouragement to local production, while citizens will have access to healthier and safer produce,” he said.

A vendor fills his basket with mangos before leaving his house to sell the mangoes in Kathmandu, June 12, 2012. File Photo/Reuters

Ajaya Gyawali, information officer at the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Madhesh province, claimed that the ban has encouraged local farmers as they do not have to compete with Indian fruits this season.

“It has promoted the local production, which is a positive development,” he said, as per PTI.

However, Gyawali admitted that the domestic production may not be enough to meet the demand for mangoes across the country.

Local traders point out that imports from India help in fulfilling the demand for the fruit throughout the year. They fear the ban on imports of Indian mango varieties would result in shortages and price hikes in Nepal.

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Bhuvaneshwar Purbe, general secretary of the Fruit and Vegetable Traders’ Association in Janakpurdham, said that a ban on Indian shipments could trigger shortages in the domestic market, reported The Rising Nepal.

He urged the Balen Shah government to bolster quarantine systems and permit the entry of Indian fruits into the Nepalese market after proper quality testing, instead of imposing a blanket ban.

Purbe said that more than 50 tonnes of mangoes arrive from neighbouring districts in Janakpurdham. This supply is later sent to Kathmandu and other parts of the country. But local production alone may be insufficient to meet the entire demand.

Traders in Nepal have warned that the price of mangoes, which is currently around NPR 100 to 150 (Rs 60-93.4) per kg in Kathmandu, could see a spike if the ban on Indian varieties is not lifted.

After Nepal had halted imports of bananas from India, the prices of the fruit, which reportedly cost around NPR 120-150 (Rs 75-93.4) a dozen last year, have jumped to NPR 250 to 300 (Rs 156-186.7) per dozen.

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The restriction could also affect industries that rely on mangoes, such as fruit juice manufacturers, Gyawali said.

What does the ban mean for India?

India produces 24 million metric tonnes of mango annually, of which only around 32,000 metric tonnes are exported, and the rest is consumed internally.

Its top five mango exporters are the United States, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

While Nepal is not among India’s largest markets for the mango produce, the restriction could disrupt the exports of premium Indian varieties such as Alphonso, Dasheri, Chausa, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli.

Moreover, the presence of chemical pesticides raises doubts about India’s fruit production ecosystem.

Last month, Japan banned India’s varieties, such as Kesar, Alphonso, Langra, and Banganapalli, for the first time in 20 years. This came after a Japanese inspection team detected irregularities in production at Indian facilities.

In March, a team of quarantine officers from Japan visited Uttar Pradesh’s Rehmanpur and found deficiencies in fumigation and related disinfection measures at treatment facilities. The ban is a big blow to Indian exporters, who have already been facing losses due to the conflict in West Asia.

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With inputs from agencies

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