Varanasi: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which celebrated its 36th Foundation Day on Sunday, has taken a giant leap in making the landlocked Purvanchal (eastern UP) a new destination of agri-export activities.
The export of the first trial shipment of 14metric tonne (MT) green chilly was facilitated by APEDA from Varanasi to Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port in December 2019. “And, there has been no looking back since then. For the first time, from Varanasi 3MT fresh vegetables was exported to London, 3MT fresh mangoes to Dubai, 1.2MT fresh mangoes to London, 520 MT regional rice to Qatar and 80 MT regional rice to Australia during the Covid pandemic in 2020, after APEDA’s intervention,” said APEDA’s regional in-charge and AGM Dr CB Singh.
According to him, major export from India occurs from coastal areas like Maharashtra and Gujarat. Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the APEDA has taken several initiatives in making eastern UP region as a new destination of agri-export activities through development of Varanasi Agri-Export Hub (VAEH). He said that the Varanasi region, where negligible agri-exports used to take place because of lack of basic infrastructure, is now abuzz with activities which has given a boost to exports. After the intervention of APEDA,
Varanasi region has recorded exemplary changes in the export scenario and registered many first-of-its-kind achievements in a very short span of time. The APEDA has identified potential districts of Uttar Pradesh to be covered under the VAEH. The Purvanchal division covers districts of Varanasi, Mirzapur, Azamgarh, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Chandauli and Sant Ravidas Nagar,
“With the active intervention of APEDA, about 20,100MT of agri- produced have been exported from Purvanchal region in the last six months.
Out of these shipments, about 5,100 MT of fresh fruits and vegetables and 15,000 MT of cereals have been exported to Vietnam, Gulf nations, Nepal and Bangladesh by all modes of transportation,” Singh told TOI, adding that Varanasi and nearby areas witnessed an export of around 12 MT, 22 MT and 45 MT in October, November and December, respectively in 2021.
Also, around 125 MT goods have been exported through waterways from Varanasi and nearby areas. As Varanasi is a territory based in the plains of river Ganga, it has rich nutritional composition of soil with ample amount of fertility which leads to production of good quality agri-produce. Besides, Varanasi region also has reputed institutions of central and international level such as Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
He said that Varanasi has an airport, but it was not active in terms of export of agricultural products directly. Currently, the Varanasi region has a number of exporters.
Exports of agricultural products is now being undertaken through the air route due to establishment of robust quarantine as well as clearance facilitation center at Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI) Airport.
APEDA has organized more than 30 capacity building programs in the entire Varanasi region followed by eight international buyer-seller meets, which has provided a platform for the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace.
According to Singh, in order to monitor the product and production, a project of AI tech is also being considered for approval.
The government is also considering to replicate the Varanasi model in the Gorakhpur region of Purvanchal as the geography, demography and few other parameters are common in both the places.
The newly established international airport in Kushinagar may play a vital role in triggering the export. The DDU Gorakhpur University, Indian Institute of Seed Science, Mau are the institutions actively working towards promotion of agri- activities in the region.
Singh said that the APEDA has also approved three projects for comprehensive grain and nutritional quality profiling of Non-Basmati Rice, value added products from rice and rice-based food systems. An APEDA-funded project for integrated IT solutions to enhance Agri Export in the Varanasi region is under process
The export of the first trial shipment of 14metric tonne (MT) green chilly was facilitated by APEDA from Varanasi to Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port in December 2019. “And, there has been no looking back since then. For the first time, from Varanasi 3MT fresh vegetables was exported to London, 3MT fresh mangoes to Dubai, 1.2MT fresh mangoes to London, 520 MT regional rice to Qatar and 80 MT regional rice to Australia during the Covid pandemic in 2020, after APEDA’s intervention,” said APEDA’s regional in-charge and AGM Dr CB Singh.
According to him, major export from India occurs from coastal areas like Maharashtra and Gujarat. Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the APEDA has taken several initiatives in making eastern UP region as a new destination of agri-export activities through development of Varanasi Agri-Export Hub (VAEH). He said that the Varanasi region, where negligible agri-exports used to take place because of lack of basic infrastructure, is now abuzz with activities which has given a boost to exports. After the intervention of APEDA,
Varanasi region has recorded exemplary changes in the export scenario and registered many first-of-its-kind achievements in a very short span of time. The APEDA has identified potential districts of Uttar Pradesh to be covered under the VAEH. The Purvanchal division covers districts of Varanasi, Mirzapur, Azamgarh, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Chandauli and Sant Ravidas Nagar,
“With the active intervention of APEDA, about 20,100MT of agri- produced have been exported from Purvanchal region in the last six months.
Out of these shipments, about 5,100 MT of fresh fruits and vegetables and 15,000 MT of cereals have been exported to Vietnam, Gulf nations, Nepal and Bangladesh by all modes of transportation,” Singh told TOI, adding that Varanasi and nearby areas witnessed an export of around 12 MT, 22 MT and 45 MT in October, November and December, respectively in 2021.
Also, around 125 MT goods have been exported through waterways from Varanasi and nearby areas. As Varanasi is a territory based in the plains of river Ganga, it has rich nutritional composition of soil with ample amount of fertility which leads to production of good quality agri-produce. Besides, Varanasi region also has reputed institutions of central and international level such as Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
He said that Varanasi has an airport, but it was not active in terms of export of agricultural products directly. Currently, the Varanasi region has a number of exporters.
Exports of agricultural products is now being undertaken through the air route due to establishment of robust quarantine as well as clearance facilitation center at Lal Bahadur Shastri International (LBSI) Airport.
APEDA has organized more than 30 capacity building programs in the entire Varanasi region followed by eight international buyer-seller meets, which has provided a platform for the exporters to market their food products in the global marketplace.
According to Singh, in order to monitor the product and production, a project of AI tech is also being considered for approval.
The government is also considering to replicate the Varanasi model in the Gorakhpur region of Purvanchal as the geography, demography and few other parameters are common in both the places.
The newly established international airport in Kushinagar may play a vital role in triggering the export. The DDU Gorakhpur University, Indian Institute of Seed Science, Mau are the institutions actively working towards promotion of agri- activities in the region.
Singh said that the APEDA has also approved three projects for comprehensive grain and nutritional quality profiling of Non-Basmati Rice, value added products from rice and rice-based food systems. An APEDA-funded project for integrated IT solutions to enhance Agri Export in the Varanasi region is under process
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