Indian farmers are increasingly diversifying their crops to include exotic and premium fruits like avocados, blueberries, dragon fruit, and kiwis, driven by rising demand both domestically and internationally. These fruits are fetching up to 50% higher returns compared to local varieties, prompting farmers and entrepreneurs to capitalize on their potential, stated Purnima Khandelwal, CEO of InI Farms, a prominent exporter of horticultural products.
This shift in agricultural practices is evident in initiatives to cultivate a variety of exotic fruits, such as dragon fruit, seedless watermelon, blueberries, red grapes, cantaloupes, avocados, and kiwis.
Recognizing the market opportunity, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has identified ten globally popular exotic fruit crops, including avocado, blueberry, dragon fruit, figs, kiwi, mangosteen, persimmon, passion fruits, rambutans, and strawberries. State horticulture departments have been directed to expand cultivation areas for these crops.
Under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) program, the government aims to significantly increase the cultivation area for dragon fruit, from 3,000 hectares in 2023 to potentially 50,000 hectares within five years. Similarly, kiwi fruit cultivation has expanded to 5,000 hectares, yielding 16,000 MT of production in FY2023, marking a substantial increase from negligible production in 2010.
The domestic market for exotic fruits in India is estimated at ₹3,000 crores, with major demand stemming from metropolitan cities, state capitals, and tourist destinations. Tourist hotspots like Goa witness particularly high demand for exotic fruits, alongside metropolitan areas like Delhi and Mumbai.
India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions play a crucial role in supporting the local production of exotic fruits. Various regions across the country are cultivating different varieties of these fruits, including kiwi in the Northeast, new apple varieties in Himachal Pradesh, exotic grapes in Nashik, melons in Solapur, berries in Madhya Pradesh, and avocados in Andhra Pradesh.
With increased production, India is also exploring opportunities in the export market, expanding beyond neighbouring countries to countries like the UAE, Austria, and Canada. Kiwi exports surged from 0.35 tonnes six years ago to 528 tonnes in 2023, indicating growing international demand.
Indo Israel Avocado, a company facilitating avocado cultivation among farmers, has witnessed a significant uptick in demand. Importing 10,000 avocado plants in just the first consignment of 2024, compared to the total imports of the past three years, underscores the burgeoning interest in exotic fruits among Indian farmers.