Fruit exports from India gain 47% in 5 years: Government

New Delhi, The government told the Rajya Sabha on Friday that fruit exports from India have risen by 47.5 per cent in the last five years.

Responding to supplementary questions during Question Hour, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said free trade agreements with the UAE and Australia have also helped in increasing fruit exports to the UAE and Australia by 27 per cent and six per cent, respectively.

“As far as fruit exports are concerned, it has increased by 47.5 per cent in the last five years. The major fruits exported from India include mango, grapes, banana, apple, pineapple, pomegranate and watermelon.

“I can assure you that the government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure our fruits and food supply through exports,” he said in the Rajya Sabha.

The minister assured members that the government is making every effort to ensure that the quality of our products and fruits is at par with international standards and the pesticide levels are very low.

“Because any product going from India is brand India and Bharat’s name and no stone has been left unturned to ensure the quality of our products and fruits being sent abroad,” he said.

Prasad said that as far as pesticides are concerned, utmost care is being taken to ensure quality and minimum residual limits. There are a lot of challenges in this sector. But, there has been a lot of improvement and supply chain deficiencies have been addressed.

We are exploring new markets for fruit exports. The free trade agreement has helped in increasing exports to UAE where fruit exports have grown by 27 per cent and with Australia where fruit exports have grown by 6 per cent,” he said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a starred question said that the key measures undertaken by the Department of Commerce in collaboration with the respective State Governments through APEDA at the State level to support fresh fruit trade include development of post-harvest handling facilities and cold chain network in the form of integrated pack houses, reefer vehicles and in-house testing facilities to maintain quality and longevity of fruits and treatment facilities like vapour heat treatment (VHT), hot water treatment (HWT) etc. to reduce infestation/incidence of pests in specific fruits.

Further, participation of exporters, FPOs in international trade fairs including events organized specifically for fruit trade like Asia Fruit Logistica (Hong Kong), Macfruit Italy etc. and international buyer-seller meet in the States for promotion of agricultural exports including fruits. holding meetings in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and undertaking campaigns during major trade fairs for promotion and branding of Indian fruits in major international markets.

“India currently exports fresh fruits to over 85 countries. APEDA works closely with the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to enter new markets such as Australia, Europe, USA and emerging markets. Intensive discussions are underway at the level of NPPO India and its counterpart agencies to gain market access for India’s fresh fruits in new markets.

“In the last three years, market access was achieved for the following fresh fruits in the following countries: (i) Fresh Banana in Canada; (ii) Pomegranate Seeds in Australia, USA, Serbia and New Zealand; (iii) Whole pomegranates in Australia through radiation treatment,” the minister said.

“As a result of the government’s intensive export promotion measures for fresh fruits, India’s fresh fruit exports are projected to grow by 47 per cent in value terms from USD 668.7 million to USD 986.3 million and 69 per cent in volume terms from 7.55 lakh metric tonnes to 12.76 lakh metric tonnes during the period 2019-20 to 2023-24,” he said.

“The government is focusing on development of maritime protocols for perishable products, particularly fresh fruits, which will enable export of greater volumes at more competitive prices, particularly to long-haul markets, leading to higher realisations for all stakeholders in the export supply chain, including farmers.

The Minister further said, “The Department of Commerce through APEDA is getting these protocols developed through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Marine protocols for banana and pomegranate have been developed and those for mango, orange and pineapple are under development.”