King of all fruits Mango

Mangoes have been cultivated in the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years and reached East Asia between the 5th and 4th centuries BC. By the 10th century AD, cultivation had begun in East Africa. The 14th century Moroccan traveler, Ibn Battuta, reported it at Mogadishu. Cultivation came later to Brazil, the West Indies and Mexico, where an appropriate climate allows its growth.

Mango is now cultivated in most frost-free tropical and warmer subtropical climates; nearly half of the world's mangoes are cultivated in India alone.

Mango is also being grown in Andalusia, Spain (mainly in Málaga province), which is one of the few places in mainland Europe that allows growth of tropical plants and fruit trees. Many of the 1,000 + mango cultivars are easily cultivated using grafted saplings, ranging from the "turpentine mango" (named for its strong taste of turpentine, which according to the Oxford Companion to Food some varieties actually contain) to the huevos de toro ("eggs of the bull", a euphemism for "bull's testicles", referring to the shape and size).

Other cultivators include North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, south, west and central Africa, Australia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia.

Though India is the largest producer of mangoes, it accounts for less than one percent of the international mango trade, consuming most of its own output.

Dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties serve as ornamental plants and can be grown in containers. 

the Tamil word for the fruit, because it is found in most abundance in Southern India, around Madras. The mango is held in high esteem all over the world and is considered to be native of Indo-Pakistan Sub-continent and eastern Asia. They are to be found in nearly all over the tropical regions of the World, therefore known as "The King" of all fruits. Mango is cultivated around February/early March, when the cold weather begins to subside and the danger of destruction through frost disappears. It comes in market early in the May and remains in market till August/September. There are more than 1300 varieties of the mango, which are cultivated in the Indo-Pak Sub-continent. In Sindh, there are more than 125 varieties of mango. As we get mangoes from Balochistan and NWFP, but the main source are Sindh and Punjab. In Pakistan we get more than 10 lacs tons production, out of which Sindh provides 50% i.e. more than 5 lacs tons. Multan and Mirpurkhas are the main regions, where we get mangoes in large quantity. The maximum production, we get from Rahim Yar Khan, where mangoes are cultivated on more than 26 thousand acres.

The main field of mango is obtained from District Rahim Yar Khan, Rahimabad, Jamaldin wali, Sadiqabad, Shaikh Wahan, Mianwali Qureshan Zahirpur, Bagho Bahar, Tirandah Mohammad Panah of district Rahim Yar Khan are very famous for mango production. Whereas, Hyderabad, Tandojam, Tando Allahyar, Tando Jan Muhammad, Digri, Nawab Shah, Naushero Feroz, Khairpur Mirus, Ghotki, Bahawalpur, Shuja abad, MuzzaffarGarh, KoatAddu, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Vihari, Okara, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Sargodha are also very famous for mango production. There are many varieties which are famous in Pakistan, but some varieties which are very common are: Sindhri, Langra, Chaunsa, Fajri, Samar Bahist, Anwar Ratole, Dasehri, Saroli, Tuta Pari, Neelam, Maldah, Collector, Bengan Phali, etc.

As mango is named as "King of the Fruits" similarly, Sindhri is said to be "The King of Mango", because this variety is top in Pakistan. Sindhri is yellow in colour, and test is very sweet. Sindhri mangoes were first brought by father of late Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo from Bombay and then cultivated at Sindhri and it was named by his father Din Muhammad Junejo as "Sindhri". Since 1996-97, Pakistan was on 4th position, but according to Jang Midweek Magazine dated 12th July 2000, Pakistan is on 5th rank. India is still on top on the production of 12 million tons. 

World Mango Production.

Brazil 0.60 million ton.
China 2.1 million ton.
Egypt 0.23 million ton.
India 12 million ton.
Indonesia 0.60 million ton.
Mexico 1.5 million ton.
Pakistan 0.91 millionton.
Philippines 0.93 million ton.
Thailand 1.25 million ton.
World product 23.80 million ton.

In the year 1999 Pakistan exported about 40.2 thousand tons, whereas Mexico stands first in the export of 209.4 thousand tons. Here is a list of ten topmost mango producing countries of the year-l999.

Brazil 39.2 thousand tons.

France 9.0
Guatemala 10.2
Hati 7.1
Holland 17.1
India 26.7
Mexico 209.4
Pakistan 40.2
Pero 10.5
Philippines 52.5
Worldwide 509.8

The point of concern is that the yield per hectare, 10 tons on the average, is not increasing. This yield is about one-third, when compared to other mango growing countries.

Mango Factors: A number of factors are responsible for the low yield including high water table and salinity, inadequate and unbalanced fertilization and lacs of plant protection measures. The widespread problem of waterlogging and salinity is a major threat to mango cultivation and the province of Sindh is the worst affected. For successful cultivation of mango orchards, the water table must be maintained at 3 meters from the ground surface. The mango yield considerably decreases, when water table comes to the level of 1.5 meters. The desired level could be achieved by the provision of a suitable drainage system.

Mango fruit is rich in vitamins, A, B and C, and contains water, protein, sugar, fats, calcium, phosphorus, fiber and iron. Mangoes according to latest scientific research as well as of folk wisdom are known to increase the body resistance against dysentery, cholera and tuberculosis. It is said "an apple a day keeps the doctor away", this is equally to of the mango. According to our local tradition, raw mango seasoned with a pinch of salt quenches thirst and loss of iron in the body, which occurs due to excessive sweating during the sultry summer. Although Pakistan produces 10 lacs tons per year, but in export, Pakistan is quite far behind with other countries. Uptil 1950s, mango cultivation was rather scanty and a lot of commodity used to come from India, through travellers. However, in the beginning of 60s, some landlords brought strains from India and grafted them in Pakistan. Over due course of time, Pakistan over took India in mango cultivation and right now produces varieties which cater not only to the domestic market, but overseas too. The chief market of Pakistan, mangoes are the Middle Eastern countries. Pakistan also exports these mangoes to other countries like Singapore, Norway, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea.

However, since some years, unfortunately the export of this fruit is facing an uptil struggle on account of tough competition from other Asian countries mainly India. Latin American countries like Brazil having now also come into the field and Pakistan near monopoly is now being challenged. There could be many reasons for this showing down of exports. One of these reasons is the traditional manner of crop production and halfhearted efforts at research. Moreover, we should never forget that the buyers in the world market are not just interested in prices. They also want good presentation. We have to constantly watch for trends, choices and preferences of the buyers in the world markets.

Another thing, the processing should be made with the latest machines and packing should not only be fancy and eye catching but durable. It should ensure that the fruit would not rot in transit and that the quality would not diminish in the process. According to the study conducted by International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland about 30 % of the food export of all over developing countries, one of which Pakistan is the one, perishes, before it reaches to the foreign market. This is because of the defective packing. Therefore, we have to improve it by all means to get more foreign exchange from other countries by exporting the good quality of mangoes. 

Other cases where Mango is beneficial ;
Kidney problems including nephritis.
Fever
Respiratory problems
Constipation



Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.

Vitamin A : 6,350 I.U.
Vitamin B : Thiamine .06 mg.;
Vitamin C : 41 mg.
Calcium : 9 mg.
Phosphorus : 13 mg.
Protein : .7 gm.
Calories : 66


Health benefits of Mangoes

Mango fruit is rich in pre-biotic dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidant compounds.

According to new research study, mango fruit has been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. Several trial studies suggest that polyphenolic anti-oxidant compounds in mango are known to offer protection against breast and colon cancers.

Mango fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin-A and flavonoids like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. 100 g of fresh fruit provides 765 mg or 25% of recommended daily levels of vitamin A. Together, these compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotenes known to protect body from lung and oral cavity cancers.

Fresh mango is a very rich source of potassium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.



It is also a very good source of vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin-C and vitamin-E. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful oxygen free radicals. Vitamin B-6 or pyridoxine is required for GABA hormone production in the brain. It also controls homocystiene levels in the blood which may otherwise be harmful to blood vessels resulting in CAD and stroke.

Copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes, including cytochrome c-oxidase and superoxide dismutase (other minerals function as co-factors for this enzyme are manganese and zinc). Copper is also required for the production of red blood cells.

Mango peels are also rich in phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants like carotenoids and polyphenols.