Rajkot: Talala, the heart of Gujarat’s Kesar mango belt, is set to conclude its mango auction season on Thursday on a strong note. With nearly 9.40 lakh boxes of Kesar mangoes (10 kg each) auctioned by the eve of the season’s closure, the market yard has recorded a 109% ncrease in arrivals compared to last year, underlining a robust season despite headwinds in export markets.The auction season began on April 19, earlier than usual, and lasted 60 days, compared with 44 days last year. Market officials attributed the longer season to two flowering cycles, resulting in staggered fruit arrivals. Some orchards yielded fruit earlier than normal, prompting an early start to trading activities.According to Talala Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) data, 4.49 lakh boxes were auctioned in 2025, while 5.90 lakh boxes were traded in 2023. The record remains 11.13 lakh boxes auctioned during the bumper 2022-23 season.Farmers and market officials pointed out that auction volumes represent only a fraction of the total Kesar crop. With mango cultivation expanding rapidly and direct marketing channels becoming increasingly popular, only about 35 to 40 per cent of the harvest now reaches the Talala market yard. The remaining produce is sold directly by farmers to traders, wholesalers and consumers.Exports Decline Amid Global DisruptionsWhile domestic demand remained strong throughout the season, exports witnessed a noticeable decline.“This year, exports were weak due to the global war situation,” said Ramesh Siroya, secretary of Talala APMC. “Air freight, transportation and packaging costs increased substantially, while some flights were not operating. As a result, mangoes earmarked for export were diverted to the domestic market.”Talala’s APMC pack house plays a key role in facilitating mango exports by providing hot water treatment, grading and sizing facilities. However, gamma irradiation — mandatory for exports to markets such as the United States and Canada — is available only at facilities near Bavla.Mangoes destined for the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries are processed at the Talala facility. According to market sources, around 300 tonnes of mangoes were processed for export this season, compared to nearly 500 tonnes last year.Official export figures for the current season are yet to be released. Gujarat exported 536 metric tonnes of mangoes last year.Siroya said the market for Kesar mangoes has expanded significantly over the years.“Earlier, Kesar mangoes were consumed mainly within Gujarat. Today, demand has grown substantially in other states, and the fruit is being transported to Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It also enjoys strong demand overseas because of its unique taste,” he said.Talala’s auctions attract wholesale traders from major markets across Gujarat. Manufacturers of mango pulp and powder also participate actively. Several traders process and preserve mango pulp for use during the off-season in products such as ice cream, shrikhand and sweets.
