Ř Uttar Pradesh Set to Emerge as a Major
Hub for Premium Fruit Production and Exports; Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj
Singh Chouhan Participates in “Fruit Horizon 2026” in Lucknow
Ř Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Outlines
Roadmap to Make India No. 1 in Fruit Exports
Ř Government Focused on Fruit Quality, Shelf
Life and Exports
Ř Action Plan for Fruit Sector to Be Prepared
to Enhance Farmers’ Income
Ř From Quality to Global Markets: Centre
and State Governments Unveil Big Vision for India’s Fruit Sector
1.
Shivraj
Singh Chouhan addressed Fruit Horizon 2026
Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke at the conference organized at ICAR–Central
Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Lucknow.
2.
India
must move beyond production-focused agriculture
The minister said merely increasing fruit production is no longer sufficient
for global competitiveness.
3.
Quality
and exports identified as key priorities
India must now focus on:
o fruit quality,
o shelf life,
o processing,
o logistics,
o and export standards.
4.
Complete
agricultural value chain needs strengthening
Chouhan emphasized improving:
o production,
o processing,
o marketing,
o and exports together.
5.
Improving
fruit quality essential for global market presence
The minister said India must align fruit production with international quality
standards to strengthen export competitiveness.
6.
Shelf
life and export quality highlighted
Special attention will be given to:
o maintaining quality during transportation,
o improving shelf life,
o and reducing export losses.
7.
Task
force to be created for farmer income enhancement
A joint task force will be formed involving:
o Indian Council of Agricultural Research
institutions,
o exporters,
o Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority,
o and related agencies.
8.
Task
force will prepare time-bound action plan
The group will work on resolving production and export bottlenecks and
improving farmer earnings.
9.
Clean
Plant Mission to strengthen Uttar Pradesh horticulture
The government announced support for Uttar Pradesh under the Clean Planting
Material Programme.
10. Modern Clean Plant Centre being set up in
Lucknow
A new centre at ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture will
develop disease-free and genetically pure planting materials.
11. Focus crops identified under the programme
The centre will support fruit crops including:
·
mango,
·
guava,
·
litchi,
·
and
avocado.
12. Zero rejection export standard emphasized
Chouhan said India should target premium-quality fruit exports with “zero
rejection” standards in international markets.
13. Modern post-harvest infrastructure
considered essential
The minister highlighted the need for:
·
pack
houses,
·
processing
units,
·
cold-chain
logistics,
·
irradiation
facilities,
·
and
practical export SOPs.
14. FPOs and SHGs seen as key drivers
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and
Self-Help Groups were identified as critical for linking small farmers with
export markets.
15. Export-oriented horticulture clusters
under development
National Horticulture Board is developing export-focused horticulture clusters.
16. Jewar Airport infrastructure expected to boost
exports
Logistics and post-harvest infrastructure linked to Noida International Airport
are expected to strengthen horticulture exports from Uttar Pradesh.
17. Wide participation at the conference
The event included:
·
farmers,
·
scientists,
·
exporters,
·
nursery
operators,
·
FPO
representatives,
·
and
stakeholders from multiple states.
18. Uttar Pradesh ministers also attended
Senior leaders including Surya Pratap Shahi and Dinesh Pratap Singh
participated in the programme.
Addressing the 'Fruit Horizon 2026' conference
organised at ICAR–Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) in Lucknow,
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj
Singh Chouhan said that merely increasing production will no longer be enough. He
stressed that India must now work seriously on quality, shelf life, processing,
logistics and export standards to establish a strong identity in the global fruit
market. The Union Minister underlined that agriculture can no longer remain confined
to the farm alone. Strengthening the entire value chain from production to processing,
marketing and exports is now the need of the hour, he said.
Focus Must Shift
from Production Alone to Quality
Interacting with farmers and
stakeholders associated with fruit production, exports and the horticulture business
ecosystem, Mr. Chouhan said that improving fruit quality is essential if India aims
to strengthen its position in the global fruit market. He emphasized that special
attention must now be given to enhancing shelf life, maintaining quality during
exports and ensuring production in line with international standards.
Task Force to Be
Formed for Enhancing Farmers’ Income
During the program, chaired by
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, it was decided that scientific institutions
under ICAR, exporters, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority and other concerned agencies would jointly constitute a task force. The
task force will work towards resolving issues faced by producers and exporters and
prepare an effective, time-bound action plan to ensure concrete steps are taken
to enhance farmers’ income.
Uttar Pradesh to
Benefit Significantly from Clean Plant Mission
Mr. Chouhan stated that, keeping
farmers’ needs in mind, the Government of India has decided to strengthen Uttar
Pradesh under the Clean Planting Material Program. As part of this initiative, a
modern Clean Plant Centre is being established at CISH, Lucknow, where disease-free
and genetically pure planting material for fruit crops such as mango, guava, litchi
and avocado will be developed and conserved.
Emphasis on Zero
Rejection and Premium Quality
The Union Minister said that
if India has to become globally competitive, special focus must be placed on producing
premium-quality fruits with 'zero rejection' standards. He added that the Indian
horticulture sector can achieve new heights through modern technology, better post-harvest
management, pack houses, processing infrastructure and practical Standard Operating
Procedures for exports.
FPOs, Clusters and
Export Infrastructure to Transform the Sector
Mr. Chouhan highlighted the critical
role of FPOs, FPCs and Self-Help Groups in connecting small farmers with better
markets and export opportunities. The programme also highlighted that the National
Horticulture Board is developing several export-oriented clusters, while strengthening
modern irradiation and integrated post-harvest infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh especially
initiatives linked to Noida International Airport (Jewar
Airport) will be an important step in this direction.
Farmers, scientists, exporters, nursery operators,
FPO representatives, fruit processing sector stakeholders and participants from
various organisations across different states attended the program. Ministers from
the Government of Uttar Pradesh, including Surya Pratap Shahi and Dinesh Pratap
Singh, along with several senior officials and scientists, were also present on
the occasion.