APEDA Facilitates
Export of First Trial Shipment of Banana to The Netherlands via Sea
·
India
is World’s Largest Producer of Banana
·
As
per Estimates, India may be able to Export Banana worth USD 1 billion in next 5
years and Increase Income of more than 25,000 Farmers
·
InI Farms has partnered with Del Monte for marketing
and distribution in Europe.
·
Bananas
to Europe was carried out by the APEDA-registered 'InI
Farms,' a top exporter of fruits and vegetables from India and their produce being
exported to over 35 countries worldwide.
·
The
world's largest banana producer, India's export share is currently just one percent
in the global market, even though the country accounts for 26.45 percent of the
world's banana production at 35.36 Million Metric Ton.
·
Andhra
Pradesh is the largest banana-producing state, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
[ABS News Service/11.11.2023]
In
a significant boost to the prospects of fresh fruit exports, the Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), operating under the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has facilitated the export of the first trial
shipment of fresh bananas to the Netherlands, by InI Farms,
via a sea route.
The
first export consignment of one container of bananas to the Netherlands was flagged
off yesterday (9th November, 2023) by APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev from Baramati,
Maharashtra.
For
the trial shipment of bananas, APEDA has enlisted the support of ICAR-Central Institute
for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH), Lucknow for technical assistance while InI Farms has partnered with Del Monte for marketing and distribution
in Europe, and Maersk for logistics.
The
trial shipment of bananas to Europe was carried out by the APEDA-registered 'InI Farms,' a top exporter of fruits and vegetables from India
and their produce being exported to over 35 countries worldwide. Over the past two
years, the firm has made extensive efforts to enhance the quality and shelf life
of bananas to meet the strict standards of the European market. As part of the Agrostar group InI Farms has also
established a value chain for bananas by working directly with farmers.
During
the event, the APEDA Chairman mentioned that the beginning of banana exports to
the Netherlands would lead to higher prices and increased income for farmers. He
also highlighted that this trial shipment would open up the significant export potential
of the European market for Indian bananas.
The
long-distance market and high costs were obstacles to starting commercial operations,
and the export of the first trial shipment of bananas will help build capacities
among Indian exporters and European Union (EU) importers by ensuring the export
of quality fruits.
Despite
being the world's largest banana producer, India's export share is currently just
one percent in the global market, even though the country accounts for 26.45 percent
of the world's banana production at 35.36 Million Metric
Ton. In the fiscal year 2022-23, India exported bananas worth USD 176 million, equivalent
to 0.36 MMT.
The
major export destinations for Indian bananas include Iran, Iraq, UAE, Oman, Uzbekistan,
Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. Additionally,
there are abundant export opportunities in countries such as the USA, Russia, Japan,
Germany, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and France.
As
India has been playing a larger role in banana trade with the Middle East for the
last 15 years, it is estimated that exports will exceed USD 303 million in the fiscal
year 2024.
Banana
is a major horticultural crop grown in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Andhra
Pradesh is the largest banana-producing state, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. These five states collectively contribute around
67 percent to India's banana production in the fiscal year 2022-23.
Other
states that also produce bananas include Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar,
West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Mizoram, and Tripura.
The
increase in the export of agricultural and processed food products is a result of
various initiatives undertaken by APEDA to promote agricultural and processed food
product exports, such as organizing B2B exhibitions in different countries and exploring
new potential markets through product-specific and general marketing campaigns with
the active involvement of Indian Embassies with a special focus on natural, organic,
and Geographical Indication (GI) tagged agro-products.
APEDA
is making continuous efforts in promoting exports of fresh fruits and vegetables
and has initiated to develop sea protocols for other fruits which have significant
export potential.