Agriculture export body APEDA on Friday said India has flagged off the first commercial trial consignment of pomegranate to the US via sea route. APEDA said in a statement that the shipment comprising 4,200 boxes (12.6 tonnes) was sent by INI Farms from IFC facility, MSAMB, Vashi (Navi Mumbai) on February 28. INI Farms has also established a value chain for pomegranates by working directly with farmers in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The fruit was procured from Anarnet registered farmers of Sangola, Maharashtra. It is noteworthy that the premium received by farmers was 20 percent compared to other export markets and 35 percent compared to the domestic market. India is one of the largest producers of pomegranate in the world.
Pomegranate production has been increasing at a good rate of 20-25 percent in recent years. In India, the major pomegranate producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra contributes more than 50 percent to the production.
APEDA has facilitated pomegranate exports worth US$ 58.36 million to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain and Oman in 2022-23.
APEDA is actively working on improving supply chain constraints for pomegranate exports; Establishment of Export Promotion Platform (EPF) for Pomegranate is to encourage export of pomegranate. The EPF has representatives from the Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, State Governments, National Referral Laboratories and top ten leading exporters of the product. Initiative taken by APEDA for sea consignment will create confidence among Indian exporters and foreign importers regarding quality