For fresh fruit exports to become competitive in the international market, a 25 per cent air freight subsidy is required by Indian exporters. This would help bring down prices of fruit exports and scale up volumes. The subsidy was earlier given but discontinued in 1999. Neighbouring countries like Pakistan have an edge in fresh fruit exports as the Government provides a freight subsidy and chartered flights for exports to the Gulf countries.

This fetches the exporters a larger number of buyers. Moreover, the government subsidy offsets any loss on account of reduced prices on exports. "Mishandling of fruit cartons at the airport is another irritant causing a loss of about 5 per cent in each cargo. Better facilities of handling need to be provided by airport authorities," D Prabhu, Director of Chennai-based Best Exporter told this website’s News Paper. The company exports about 500 tonne of fresh fruits per annum, including mangoes and pomegranates.

Availability of cold storages and pre-cooling facilities near the mango farms is another demand of exporters. The exporters require governmental support in this venture, said Prabhu. While Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have not fared well in fresh fruit exports, Andhra Pradesh scored in grapes and mango exports, said AGM of APEDA, R Ravindra. The country exported over Rs 700 crore worth of fresh fruits in FY'07. Adequate irradiation facilities in quarantine for mango exports to USA are also required in the South. Currently, the technology is available only at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Nashik. This imposes an extra burden of Rs 6 per kg on transportation, scaling up costs for exporters. Plans are afoot though for setting up irradiation facilities in Hyderabad also.