The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), an apex body under the ministry of commerce & industry, organised a capacity-building and experience-sharing programme in Varanasi on Tuesday.
As part of the event, a flag-off ceremony for fresh turmeric took place, marking a significant milestone. For the first time, a consignment of 1,600 kg of turmeric was sent directly from Varanasi to Sharjah, UAE, exported by Banaras Organo Farmer Producer Comp. Ltd. This achievement came as a result of an order secured during a recent exposure visit to the UAE organised by APEDA.
In the effort to unlock the export potential of agricultural and processed food products from the region, APEDA arranged an exposure visit to Dubai, UAE, from February 26 to March 1. A delegation of 47 members, including 31 representatives from FPOs in Uttar Pradesh, five from Bihar, and one from Uttarakhand, actively participated in the visit.
To evaluate the benefits of the visit and disseminate its message among farmers, APEDA organised the capacity-building and experience-sharing programme, which was attended by the divisional commissioner, Kaushal Raj Sharma, and APEDA chairman Abhishek Dev (virtually). Commissioner Sharma commended APEDA’s efforts in the Purvanchal region, emphasizing that the exposure visit for FPOs was a unique opportunity, facilitated by APEDA’s guidance in meeting agricultural export requirements and international protocols. The region has seen significant growth in agricultural exports, rising from 51 MT in the fiscal year 2021-22 to 702 MT in 2023-24 (April to December), a testament to APEDA’s initiatives since 2020.
APEDA chairman highlighted the importance of exposure visits in exploring agricultural export opportunities, which contribute to national foreign exchange earnings and significant farmer incomes. He noted the keen interest of FPOs in agricultural export as a positive sign for the region, positioning Uttar Pradesh as the third-largest agricultural exporting state in India, following Gujarat and Maharashtra.
