Sunday, July 1, 2012

Foreign envoys bowled over by mango magic


Bowled over by the taste of dussehri mangoes, representatives of various foreign missions, who were on a picnic to the orchards of Malihabad, gave a nod for the export of the king of fruits to their countries. 
Ambassadors and consuls of 14 countries who went on the mango-tasting trip were offered a “desi” lunch—besan roti, vegetables cooked over the wood fire, a splash of hot Pudina chatni (mint chatni with extra slices of green chilli) and a glass of cold lassi—not to mention mangoes from the orchards during their trip to Malihabad, 30 km from Lucknow. 

The mangoes are delicious...the possibilities of their export are bright...I have come here to taste them and promote them in my country,” said Rostylslav V Zatsepilin, consular in the embassy of Ukraine. 

“The climate in our country is not conducive for growing mangoes,” he told Deccan Herald as he strained to climb over the bullock cart for a ride around the orchard.Algerian ambassador Mohammed Hacene echoed similar thoughts. “We grow only three varieties of mangoes back in Algeria. We will be interested in growing such delicious mangoes but we will have to see if it could be grown,”  he said.

Spokesman for the Mango Growers’ Association Siraj Mehendi appeared bullish over theprospects of increasing exports. “Dussheri has a unique taste. We have no competition. This is the first time so many foreign envoys have visited the mango orchard and tasted the fruits,” Mehendi said.


He said the envoys would also be given mango saplings. Visitors to the mango-tasting trip included envoys from Algeria, Iran, Tajikistan, Malawi, Ukraine, Eritrea, Fiji, Surinam and Sri Lanka.


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