Haridwar Exports Bitter Gourd & Okra to Dubai for the First Time

The first consignment of vegetables from Haridwar was exported on July 26 to Dubai, UAE. This consignment includes bitter gourd, okra, pear, and curry leaves. This is the first time vegetables of Haridwar will reach Dubai and the move comes at the right time when India is set to witness highest ever horticulture crop production.  

In May 2021, a consignment of millets from Uttarakhand itself was exported to Denmark for the first time.  

Uttarakhand’s export scenario 

APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) collaborated with UKAPMB (Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce Marketing Board) and Just Organik, which is an exporter, to source and process jhingora (barnyard millet) and ragi (finger millet) from farmers of Uttarakhand and to export them to foreign lands.  

Care is taken that the produce meets the organic certification standards of the EU (European Union).  

This move has received a lot of support from the Uttarakhand government. UKAPMB is supporting thousands of farmers to get organic certification for their produce so that they become eligible for being exported. Most of these farmers are producers of ragi, amaranthus, and barnyard millets, plus horticultural produce.  

Role of APEDA in promoting export activities in Uttarakhand 

APEDA has put in commendable promotional efforts to bring Uttarakhand on the agricultural and processed food products export map of India, says a release from the Ministry of Commerce.  

Further, APEDA is also putting in efforts to render financial help to build a pack house in Uttarakhand to provide adequate infrastructure to export fresh fruits and vegetables globally.  

The release says that APEDA plans to continue its focus in Uttarakhand state with regard to capacity building, infrastructure development, and quality upgradation by bringing together farmers and buyers through strengthening the supply chain of agricultural produce.  

Export scenario of India 

In 2020-21, India’s exports of fruits and vegetables was worth Rs. 11, 019 crore compared to Rs. 10,114 crore in 2019-20. This is an increase to around 9% this year.