In a fresh blow to India’s mango exports, Nepal has now imposed restrictions on mango imports from India, citing concerns over excessive pesticide residues in the fruit and the absence of adequate quarantine infrastructure at border checkpoints. This comes soon after Japan had also imposed restrictions on mango imports from India.Following the move, locally produced mangoes are flooding markets across Nepal. Demand for the fruit typically rises during the summer months.Authorities said the decision was driven by reports of high pesticide content in imported mangoes as well as inadequate quarantine arrangements in border regions, particularly in Madhesh province.Also Read | The big Hapus crisis: How climate shocks are threatening India’s iconic Alphonso mango
Nepal’s restrictions on India’s mangoes
According to Ajaya Gyawali, information officer at the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives in Madhesh province, the restrictions have benefited domestic growers by reducing competition from Indian mangoes during the current season.“The move has encouraged local production, which is a positive outcome,” he told PTI.At the same time, Gyawali noted that domestic output may not be sufficient to fully meet nationwide demand for mangoes.The districts of Siraha, Saptari and Dhanusha in Madhesh province are among Nepal’s key mango-producing regions, he said.Mango cultivation in Nepal generally takes place between mid-May and mid-July. Gyawali added that the import curbs could also have an impact on industries that depend on mango supplies, including fruit juice manufacturers.Bhuvaneshwar Purbe, General Secretary of the Fruit and Vegetable Traders’ Association in Janakpurdham, warned that stopping mango imports from India could result in supply shortages in the local market.He suggested that instead of enforcing a blanket restriction, the government should improve quarantine infrastructure and permit the entry of Indian mangoes after conducting proper quality and safety checks, according to a report in The Rising Nepal.Purbe said that although more than 50 tonnes of mangoes are sourced from neighbouring districts and routed through Janakpurdham before being distributed to Kathmandu and other parts of the country, local output alone may not be enough to satisfy overall demand.Traders have also cautioned that mango prices could rise further if the import restrictions remain in place. In Kathmandu, mangoes are currently selling for around NPR 100-150 per kg.Consumers have pointed to a similar trend in bananas. Following the suspension of banana imports from India, prices have increased significantly, with a dozen bananas now costing around NPR 250-300, compared with NPR 120-150 a year ago.
Japan suspends mango imports from India
A few days ago it was reported that Japan has suspended imports of fresh mangoes from the country for the current season. The decision has effectively halted shipments of popular Indian varieties consumed in Japan, including Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli.Among India’s exports to Japan during 2025-26, Gujarat’s Kesar mango accounted for the largest share. The variety generated export earnings of nearly $0.2 million out of the total $1.54 million earned from fresh, processed and pulp mango exports to the Japanese market.India’s top five mango export destinations by value during 2025-26, including fresh fruit, pulp and processed products, were the United States, the UAE, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.According to an ET report, the suspension followed observations made by Japanese plant quarantine officials during inspections conducted at Indian treatment facilities in March. The inspectors reportedly found deficiencies in fumigation and other disinfection procedures, leading to the decision to stop imports.
