New Delhi, Dec 27: India wants to boost banana exports to USD one billion in the next five years after a successful experimental shipment of fresh bananas via sea to the Netherlands, an official stated.
“With the successful trial shipment, India aims to export bananas worth over USD one billion in the next five years, opening doors to a diversified market portfolio through sea route,” the official stated.
On December 5, the experimental shipment arrived in Rotterdam, Netherlands which was shipped from Baramati, Maharashtra.
India developing sea protocols
Currently, the majority of Indian fruit exports are conducted via air due to varying ripening periods and smaller quantities.
India is creating marine regulations for vegetables and fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, and jackfruit, in order to boost the amount and encourage exports via ocean channels.
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Understanding voyage time, comprehending these commodities’ ripening from a scientific standpoint, harvesting at a specific period, and teaching farmers are all part of the protocol. These guidelines will vary depending on the type of fruit or vegetable.
These protocols for bananas have been created in collaboration with various stakeholders by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). APEDA is a division of the Ministry of Commerce.
India is world’s largest banana producer
Beyond the Middle East, the official stated, India’s export destinations for bananas include key international players like the USA, Russia, Japan, Germany, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and France.
India is the world’s largest producer of bananas, but its export share of the worldwide market is currently only 1%, despite the fact that the nation produces 35.36 million metric tonnes of bananas, or 26.45% of the world’s total.
India exported 0.36 MMT of bananas in 2022–2023 with a total value of USD 176 million.
Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh are among the key states contributing significantly to banana production.
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