Mumbai market gets Alphonso mangoes from Africa

Although it's not summer, the Alphonso mangoes from Malawi are available for sale in the market of Mumbai. Traders here say that the quality and taste of these mangoes are the same as the Konkan region variety and it is sold for Rs 700-800 per kg.

Mumbai: Though the mango season is yet to begin in India, the Alphonso mangoes from Malawi are available for sale in Mumbai's market.

Malawi is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between Zambia and Tanzania. Its horticulture is a large sector, with a warm soil suitable for mangoes.

Traders at the wholesale market say that around 10 years ago, grafts from Alphonso trees from Ratnagiri were taken and planted in Malawi, with the rootstock of local mango available there over 1,500 acres.

There is a huge demand for Malawi mangoes as it tastes similar to Ratnagiri Hapus and available around three months before Ratnagiri mangoes arrive in the market, traders said.

They also said that the quality and taste of these mangoes are the same as the Konkan region variety and it is sold for Rs 700-800 per kg.