coca-cola

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCBPL) and Jain Irrigation Systems have outlined plans to boost mango juice production in India using the ultra high density plantation (UHDP) technology.

As part of phase II of their joint initiative Project Unnati, the companies plans to invest around INR500m ($8.48m) over the next ten years.

Around 25,000 farmers, holding an area of 50,000 acres, will benefit by adopting the UHDP technology to escalate the mango production.

Using drip irrigation, UHDP improves yield/acre and decreases the quantity of water used per kilo of mango produced.

The UHDP technology has the potential to yield upward of 200% more produce compared to the traditional method.

The scaled up initiative is expected to deliver about 300KMT fruit by the year 2022-23, Coca-Cola claims.

Jain Irrigation Systems managing director Anil Jain said that India is the largest producer of mango pulp across the world, with one of the lowest mango yield.

"Over the next 10 years, we aim to scale up the project to cover end-to-end fruit supply chain and further optimize delivery," Jain added.

HCCBPL CEO Krishnakumar said, "Scaling up of the initiative in close association with farmers and Jain Irrigation will result in the creation of an ecosystem that delivers higher growth and income for farmers and helps us streamline supply chain and enhance productivity for our Indian brands Maaza and Minute Maid Mango."

Image: Headquarters of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Courtesy of J. Glover (AUtiger).