GS 3: Economy – Food Processing & Related Industries In India

Why in News?

A local mango variety called Ishad is facing the threat of becoming rare in its homeland, Ankola of Uttara Kannada district.

Ishad Mango:

• The mango has two variants — Kari Ishad, which has thin skin, more pulp and is sweeter, and Bili Ishad, which has thick skin and has less pulp and sweetness.
• Some farmers did try to grow it outside Ankola taluk, but failed.
• It is delicate to handle given its short shelf life. Hence, the fruit cannot be transported to faraway places.
• The pulp of this mango has been extracted for over a century for making value-added products. Oriental Canneries and Industries set up a unit in Ankola in 1908 to extract pulp from Ishad for making value-added products.
• The then Bombay government supported it by supplying wood.
• The pulp is used for making 48 recipes. It was being used in the United States, Australia and Sri Lanka.