Packing of the fruit in progress at a plant in Malda. Picture by Surajit Roy

Malda, May 30: Imagine the Brazillian footballer Ronaldinho biting into a slice of Himsagar at breakfast.

The scene might seem a little far-fetched but impossible it is not.

A consignment of 1,300 kg of Himsagar mango is making its way from here to London. From there it will be sent to other parts of Europe, including Germany, which is hosting World Cup 2006. The mangoes began their overseas journey today in an air-conditioned van that will take them to Calcutta. The fruits will be flown to London on an Air India flight.

Anup Dutta, the owner of the export company that is handling the transaction, claimed that at least a 100 tonnes from his cargo will be sent to Germany during the World Cup.

?There is a tremendous demand for Indian mangoes abroad. I shall export mangoes to the UK, Norway and Finland,? Dutta said.

He, however, regretted that mangoes from Bengal have no ready market in the European countries, where the Alfonso is more popular. ?This is simply because people there are not aware of mangoes from Bengal. This is the first time we are making an attempt to create a specific market for the ?Bengal mango?,? he said. Dutta praised the efforts made in this direction by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and former food processing minister Sailen Sarkar. The air-fare this time has been slashed from Rs 200 to Rs 70 per kg, to promote trade.

According to Subrata Ghosh, deputy manager, horticulture department, besides Dutta, Biswas Agro Product, will also export mangoes to the Arab countries, Singapore and Malaysia, this year.