Kenya and Sri Lanka receives first shipment of GI certified Bhalia Wheat from Gujarat

On Wednesday (7 July 2021), the first shipment of GI certified Bhalia wheat was shipped from Gujarat to Kenya and Sri Lanka. 

The GI certified wheat is high in protein and has a sweet flavour. The crop is primarily grown in Gujarat's Bhal area, which comprises of the districts of Ahmedabad, Anand, Kheda, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, and Bharuch. 

The distinguishing feature of this wheat variety is that it is cultivated in rainfed circumstances in around two lakh hectares in Gujarat.  In July 2011, Bhalia wheat cultivar got GI certification. Anand Agricultural University in Gujarat is the registered owner of the GI certification. 

According to news report from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Authority of India (APEDA), this is expected to improve wheat exports. 

Wheat exports increased by 808 percent to Rs 4,034 crore in 2020-21, up from Rs 444 crore the previous fiscal year. Exports increased by 778 percent to $ 549 million in US dollars. 

During 2020-21, India exported significant amounts of grain to seven new countries: Yemen, Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia, and Myanmar. 

Very less amount of wheat were shipped to these nations in prior fiscal years. In 2018-19, no wheat was shipped to these seven nations, and only 4 metric tons of grain was exported in 2019-20. Wheat exports to these nations increased to 1.48 lakh tonnes in 2020-21.