In a major breakthrough for agricultural exports, India has successfully shipped a 12.5-tonne consignment of Uttar Pradesh’s iconic Dashehari and Langra mangoes to Dubai via a sea route. Jointly executed by Shehnaz Export and Attashi Global for the Lulu Group, the initiative relied on a novel sea-export protocol developed by ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH) and APEDA. The mangoes were harvested in Amroha, treated with ICAR-CISH’s METWASH shelf-life enhancement technology, and transported in a 40-foot refrigerated container under an unbroken cold chain. Despite weather-induced delays extending the harvest-to-market journey to 25 days, nearly 90 per cent of the fruit arrived in prime marketable condition.
This successful trial proves the commercial viability of cost-effective sea freight as an alternative to expensive air logistics for perishable fruits. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the drastic reduction in transportation costs directly benefited local growers, allowing exporters to pay farmers an additional ₹15–20 per kilogram compared to traditional channels. Marking the first commercial sea shipment of these specific varieties from Uttar Pradesh to the Gulf, this landmark achievement paves the way for expanded sea-based agricultural trade, boosting international competitiveness and scaling income opportunities for Indian mango farmers. PIB
