The first air shipment of two mango types has been flown in from India to Maldives.

As per a press statement from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the shipment was imported yesterday from Karnataka to Maldives.

Karnataka is a state where Maldivians frequent, with flights being available between Karnataka and Maldives.

India has sent two types of mangoes to Maldives, known as the "Neelam" and the "Totapuri" which are native to India. The Neelam is sweeter than other mangoes but is smaller in size. The Totapuri are bigger and oblong in shape.

India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry said this is an important step in making it easier for Indian farmers to export their products, specifically in expediting the distribution of "seasonal products" to markets via air freight.

Chairman of India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the company behind the achievement, Abhishek Dev said they were able to get to this point with the aid of the Farmer Producer Company (FPC), farmers and stakeholders.

He said that as they were able to export mangoes via air freight, it has expanded Indian mangoes to other markets. He also said this is an opportunity for farmers to gain benefit from their products. 

Maldives has imported one metric ton of mangoes via air freight from India. They were imported to Maldives by the Women Entrepreneur and Exporters company.

With the import of mangoes to Maldives, Indian farmers will see a 50 percent increase to their revenue.