A farmer producer company in the Purandar taluka of Maharashtra’s Pune district, which was the first such company in the country to export fresh figs to international markets, is now in the process of exporting figs to Malaysia.
The company, Purandhar Highlands, had exported around 550 kg of fresh figs last year to Hong Kong.
Chief Managing Director of the company Rohan Ursal said, “Thanks to the investment in terms of better agricultural practices, our figs managed to be exported. While there is good demand for figs in the international markets, high perishability of the fruit makes exports almost impossible,” he said.
Atul Kadlag, director of the company said, they are at present collecting figs from 100 farmers and custard apples from 400 farmers in and around Purandhar.
Scion Agricos, the Indian subsidiary of Pilz Schindler, Germany, is FPC’s export partner while Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is also helping the company in global food fairs.
The figs from Purandhar have got their GI tag.
Ursal, said their farmers whose produce is selected for exports, are paid Rs 20/kg more than the normal rates “Thus if the prevailing prices are Rs 80/kg our farmers get Rs 100/kg ,” he said.
The company has set up its processing plant in Purandhar taluka and have produced what can be called as the first fig spread and fig juice in the country.
Kadlag mentioned that in the recently concluded SIAL (Salon Internationale de l’Alimentation) exhibition conducted in New Delhi, the company was awarded the prestigious innovation award for their fig juice. “Ours is the only Indian company which has won the award,” he said.
SIAL is the biggest network of food and drinks fares held across the world. This award will now allow the products of Purandhar Highlands to be exhibited at every SIAL fare held across the country.
Kadlag mentioned that they have now entered into states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat Delhi and other states as well. “With our figs now in the global market we hope to open more doors for our farmers,” said Ursal.