U.S. Sponsors Mango Packaging Conference in Navi Mumbai: Indian Mango Producers to Benefit from New Markets, Technology

September 29, 2006

NEW DELHI – A two-day conference sponsored by the United States government showcasing practical and innovative packaging solutions for mango products to help Indian mango producers opened today in Navi Mumbai.

The conference is sponsored by the Partnership for Food Industry Development, a program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is being held September 29 and 30 at the South Indian Education Society (SIES) School of Packaging at Nerul in Navi Mumbai.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Beth Hogan, Deputy Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (India) said, “This program is part of a U.S. global effort to assist small farmers by improving the marketing of fresh produce. By doing so, we can help farmers gain better access to markets and help them to make better business deals for themselves.”

Nanasaheb B. Patil, Principal Secretary Agriculture, and R. P. Gautam, Secretary of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, also participated in the event.

The packaging conference links packaging industry representatives with users such as growers, traders, exporters, distributors and retail chain operators and showcasing international practices which add to product value. Specific case studies, products and prototypes will be discussed.

India is the world's largest producer of mangos, but it accounts for less than one percent of the global mango trade. U.S. Agency for International Development’s Partnership for Food Industry Development program works with Michigan State University and Indian counterparts such as the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board to help Indian farmers adopt Good Agricultural Practices to tap domestic and international markets and improve food safety, quality standards and also support food processing. Facilitating a mix of private-public partnerships, the program provides access to U.S. expertise and technology and allows India to access new markets and increase mango sales.