APEDA Flags Off First Commercial Export of Jharkhand Mangoes to UK
Kolkata, June 7 (TNT): The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has flagged off the first commercial consignment of fresh mangoes from Jharkhand to the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in the state’s agricultural export journey.
The flag-off ceremony was held in Kolkata on June 4.
The consignment consists of 1.5 metric tonnes of fresh Amrapali mangoes sourced from Beura Farmer Producer Company Ltd., an all-women Farmer Producer Company (FPC) located in Bano Block of Simdega district in Jharkhand.
The shipment is being exported by Kolkata-based M/s JGB Agrofresh Pvt. Ltd. to London.
The export initiative follows an Export-Oriented Capacity Building Programme organised by APEDA on May 5 for Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and progressive farmers in Simdega district.
The programme focused on export procedures, quality standards and global market opportunities.
Following the training programme, APEDA facilitated a linkage between Beura Farmer Producer Company Ltd. and JGB Agrofresh Pvt. Ltd. to enable procurement of export-quality mangoes from the district.
The current shipment is the first outcome of that initiative.
Officials said the linkage has enabled direct participation of the women-led farmer producer company in the export value chain, providing international market access to its members and ensuring better price realisation compared to domestic market rates.
The initiative is expected to encourage farmers to adopt improved cultivation methods, better post-harvest handling practices and compliance with international quality standards, thereby enhancing export competitiveness.
Jharkhand’s favourable agro-climatic conditions make it suitable for horticulture cultivation, and the Amrapali variety of mango grown in the state is known for its superior quality and strong market acceptance.
With this shipment, Jharkhand joins the growing list of Indian states exporting fresh fruits to international markets.
APEDA continues to promote exports of agricultural and processed food products through market development initiatives, capacity-building programmes, quality enhancement measures, traceability systems and export promotion activities.
The authority also focuses on integrating farmer collectives, including women-led and tribal producer organisations, into global agricultural value chains.
The successful export of the first commercial mango consignment from Jharkhand is being viewed as a significant step towards expanding international market opportunities for the state’s farmers and strengthening rural livelihoods through agricultural exports.
TNT TS
