Fresh fruit and vegetable exports from India increased by 72 per cent during 2009/10 compared with the previous year, according to new figures released by the country's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda), with shipments to Gulf countries believed to be providing exporters with the biggest opportunities to grow their business.
“Emphasis on adherence to quality standards, geographical proximity (to Gulf countries) and growing contract farming in the country are responsible for the rise in exports of fresh fruits and vegetables,” Apeda's chairman, Asit Tripathy, chairman, told the Financial Express.
During the past 12 months, Indian fresh produce exports – including onions, walnuts, mangoes and table grapes – were worth more than Rs5,400 crore (€855.3m), compared with Rs3,659 crore (€579.6m) in 2008/09.
Further increases are anticipated during the coming year, with Apeda underlining the potential for new investment in coldstorage facilities especially in the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Higher demand for bananas was also a promising development for Indian exporters, Mr Tripathy said, adding that west Asian countries that have traditionally sourced bananas from the Philippines have been shifting their focus towards India because of its apparentlt improved quality and price advantage.
According to Apeda, India's banana exports were worth around Rs100 crore (€15.8m) in 2009/10.
