Bhubaneswar: To increase mango export from Odisha, the state govt on Monday conducted a training session for over 150 farmers at Patnagarh in Balangir. The session focused on sorting, grading, ripening, hygienic packaging and cold storage, which are crucial components for reducing post-harvest losses and meeting export standards.The region has over 1,500 hectares under mango cultivation, with commercial varieties like dasheri, langra and amrapali and has the potential to export quality fruit. However, most growers still rely on traditional methods and often lease orchards early to external vendors, limiting their income potential.“The training is a step towards reversing that trend. With proper post-harvest practices and access to govt support, our farmers can claim their rightful share in high-value markets, both domestic and international,” Pramod Kumar Shethy, additional director of horticulture, Patnagarh, said.More than 150 farmers learned how to access support under the govt’s post-harvest management scheme, such as subsidies for crates, transit logistics and cold chain infrastructure.A highlight of the day was a hands-on demonstration in five mango orchards where farmers saw demonstrations on how to maintain the quality of fruits from plucking to packing and critical steps in meeting global market standards. “This training gave us practical knowledge that we can apply right away. We now understand how to handle the fruit better, reduce losses and find better buyers,” a farmer said.The programme also included a strategic meeting among farmers, horticulture officials and market experts to identify marketing challenges and explore new opportunities for collaboration and export. The training was organised by the department of agriculture and farmers’ empowerment with technical support from Palladium India, a consultancy firm under the Promotion and Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations project.Preliminary surveys conducted by Palladium indicate that the amrapali mango grown in Patnagarh meets export benchmarks and with proper training and infrastructure, the region could become a major export hub, official sources said.