India successfully flagged off its first commercial trial shipment of pomegranates to the US via sea under the aegis of APEDA. The shipment was conducted by InI Farms from the IFC facility in MSAMB, Vashi (Navi Mumbai). Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and Abhishek Dev, Chairman of APEDA, flagged off the pomegranate shipment, which comprised 4,200 boxes (12.6 tons).
The ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), the Regional Plant Quarantine Station (RPQS- MoA & FW), the State Agriculture Department (Government of Maharashtra), the National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRC Pomegranate), the US Consulate, and InI Farms.
Last year, APEDA successfully conducted an air shipment of pomegranates with irradiation treatment and a static trial in association with ICAR-NRC Pomegranate, Solapur, as the technical partner. Based on the successful results of the static trial, APEDA aimed for the successful sign-off for this consignment via sea, thereby opening trade relations to potential markets for Indian pomegranates. India, one of the largest producers of pomegranates in the world, is also aiming to be amongst the top pomegranate-exporting countries globally. India is a key player in the EU, Middle East, and Asian markets.
The trial air shipment, static sea trial, and the sea container were executed by APEDA-registered InI Farms, a leading exporter of fruits and vegetables from India with their produce exported to over 25 countries worldwide. Over the years, the firm has made extensive efforts to enhance the quality and shelf life of pomegranates to meet the strict standards of global markets. As part of the Agrostar group, InI Farms has established a value chain for pomegranates by working directly with farmers in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
The fruit was sourced from Anarnet-registered farmers from Sangola in Maharashtra. Significantly, the premium received by farmers was 20% higher compared to other export markets and 35% higher compared to the domestic market.
Pomegranate is an important agricultural produce of India, and its rich history and nutritional value contribute to its popular demand. India produces some of the best varieties of pomegranates in terms of quality with soft fleshy seeds, low acidity, and attractive colour. Bhagwa pomegranate is considered among the best varieties globally. In the last decade, India has increased both the area and production of pomegranates and has seen an increase in exports. India holds a significant advantage in the pomegranate market, being able to supply pomegranates throughout the year with trained farmers producing expert quality products. Pomegranate production in recent years has been growing at a healthy rate of 20-25%. In India, the major pomegranate-producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, with Maharashtra contributing to more than 50% of the production share.
APEDA facilitated pomegranate exports worth $58.36 million in 2022-23 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain, and Oman.
APEDA has been actively working on improving the supply chain bottlenecks for pomegranate exports. The establishment of Export Promotion Forums (EPF) for pomegranates is an impetus to pomegranate exports. The EPF includes representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, state governments, national referral laboratories, and the top ten leading exporters of the product. The initiative taken by APEDA for the sea consignment will build trust between Indian exporters and foreign importers regarding quality assurance.