Japan has once again banned mango imports from India, nearly two decades after it last did so. It took the decision after finding flaws in Indian pest control earlier this year.

The move is a major blow to the summer export season for India's famous Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli mangoes.

Japan had earlier banned Indian mangoes because of the risk of fruit flies. It lifted that ban in 2006 after India introduced strict disinfestation measures.

Japan follows a "zero tolerance" policy on harmful pests such as fruit flies, which are seen as a major threat to the country's agriculture.

Every year before the export season, Japanese quarantine officials visit India to inspect vapour heat treatment (VHT) centres, where mangoes are disinfested before export. Vapour heat treatment is a chemical-free method in which hot air at a set temperature and humidity is used to kill insects and fruit fly larvae inside the fruit. The process is mandatory under the two countries' export agreement.

In March this year a Japanese team inspected a VHT centre in the Rahmanpur area of Uttar Pradesh. Various reports say flaws were found in the fumigation and disinfestation processes there. However, neither India nor Japan has yet disclosed exactly what technical problems were identified.

India produces about 2.8 crore tonnes of mangoes a year, the most in the world. Most are eaten at home, but farmers and traders earn more from exports to high-value markets such as Japan.

Exporters fear the ban could create a negative impression in international markets about India's quality control for farm products, and could worry other importing countries.

Alphonso growers in Maharashtra were already under pressure. Severe heat and erratic weather linked to El Nino have caused widespread crop losses there this year, and according to government surveys mango production has fallen by 85 to 90 per cent in some areas.

Those in the trade fear that, on top of lower output, the Japanese ban could further cut export earnings in one of the most important seasons for the mango business.

The report is based on NDTV.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.