PUNE: Alphonso mangoes have turned doubly sweeter for domestic consumers this season as prices of the most premium variety of the king of Indian fruits have almost halved following an increase in supply and the possible impact on other importers of the ban clamped by the European Union. If Alphonso mangoes reach other parts of the country in large quantities, prices of other varieties such as Safeda are also likely to fall, traders said.Supply of Alphonso mangoes shot up two to three times in tandem with the sudden rise in mercury, which caused simultaneous ripening instead of staggered ripening of this season’s crop. Moreover, this is a year of good crop of mango, which sees an increased production every alternate year. Therefore, prices of Alphonso mangoes started falling about a fortnight ago while the European Union banned Indian mangoes with effect from May 1.All major markets in the region saw enhanced availability of the fruit on Akshaya Tritiya. Two lakh boxes of Alphonso mangoes arrived in Mumbai’s Vashi wholesale market compared with 60,000 boxes a fortnight ago. "There has been a threefold increase in mango arrivals due to sudden increase in temperatures. The rates have decreased by about Rs 800 per box," said Sanjay Pansare, director (fruits), Vashi Market.Nathsaheb Khaire, one of the biggest wholesale dealers of mangoes in Pune said prices had fallen by 40% over the past eight days. "The temperature in Maharashtra has suddenly increased to 40 degree Celsius, which led to early ripening of the fruit. Karnataka is getting rains consistently, leading to increase in size of the fruits," said Khaire.Delhi gets a limited supply of Alphonso mangoes, a majority of which are exported each year. However, with increased arrivals in Mumbai, rates fell in Delhi as well, from Rs 400-450 per dozen two days ago to Rs 350-400 on Friday. From April to June, Delhi gets the bulk of its supply of mangoes from southern India while June onwards it gets mangoes from Uttar Pradesh.Sudesh Sachdev, the biggest trader of Andhra Pradesh mangoes at Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi said, "The main arrival of Andhra mangoes in Delhi started from April 15 and the prices have been almost stable since then."If Delhi gets more Alphonso mangoes this season, Safeda mangoes from Andhra Pradesh are also likely to turn cheaper due to the popular preference for Alphonso.Amar Desai, a mango grower and exporter from Pavas in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, the abode of Alphonso mangoes, said, "Prices of Alphonso in the domestic market have decreased by almost 50% due to the increase in arrivals. The temperature was slightly less in April due to the rainfall in many parts of Maharashtra, though it did not rain in the Konkan region. As a result, mango production was less in April. Now, with the increase in temperature, all the mangoes have ripened at once instead of ripening in the usual phased manner."The ban by the EU is likely to have very little impact on the demand and supply situation in the domestic market as exports to the European Union account for a small percentage of the total domestic consumption. According to Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Agency (APEDA), India exported 55,000 tonne mangoes in 2012-13, of which about 4,000 tonne were exported to the EU. Indian exports mangoes to the US, EU, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries.The major exports take place to the Middle East while India accounts for 70% of the mango imports of New Zealand. Different countries demand a different kind of treatment on the fruits and vegetables before exports. The US requires the mangoes to be treated with nuclear radiation. India’s only irradiation facility is located at Lasalgaon, where the US deputes its own inspector for the duration of mango exports. India bears expenses of the US inspector. Countries like Japan insist on vapour heat treatment (VHT).Although the EU does not insist on any specific type of treatment for the mangoes, it imposed a ban after detection of fruit fly in Indian mangoes. The EU stated while banning Indian fruits and four vegetables, "The number of consignments from India intercepted with harmful organisms in the Union has shown an upward trend since 2010. Audits carried out by the commission in India, in particular in 2010 and 2013, revealed shortcomings in the phytosanitary export certification system. Despite assurances and action taken by India, the number of interceptions increased further in 2013."Indian authorities maintain that they have taken steps to ensure that Indian mangoes meet all the phytosanitary requirements of EU. Sudhangshu, western region head of APDEA said, "From April 1, export to the EU has been allowed only from the APEDA-approved pack houses. We also organise meetings of farmers with the exporters to make them aware about the specifications required for exports."To increase the traceability of mangoes, just as in the case of grapes and pomegranates, APEDA is working on introducing mangonet traceability system by next mango season.According to traders, there are 200 to 300 instances every year of rejection of Indian shipments due to phytosanitary issues while the Indian authorities did not reject a single shipment at the source.The EU may have banned Indian mangoes from this month but exports to Japan have come to a standstill since last year even as the country did not announce an official clampdown. Japan lifted its two-decade long ban on import of Indian mangoes in June 2006. Initially, the Japanese importers showed great interest in Indian mangoes but subsequently lost faith after detection of some pesticide residues in the fruit, traders said. "The returns from export to Japan are the highest. However, we have not been able to export since last year," said Amar Desai, partner, Desai Bandhu Ambewale from Pavas in Ratnagiri district in Konkan region.The Japanese government has not deputed its phytosanitary inspector to the VHP facility at Vashi since last year. Indian officials said the Japanese officials did not come because there was no response from the Indian exporters."They depute their official only if we demand for it. There is no response from Indian exporters," said a government official dealing with mango exports.But the Japanese official is expected to come at the Saharanpur VHP facility this year, he said. Although this facility has been set up specifically for export of UP mangoes to Japan, the Japanese official has not visited it for the past two seasons.