in the absence of cold storage Convenience for Kamalam, it is not possible for the farmers of Kutch to stock huge quantities of exotic fruits which are required for export by sea route. For shipping purposes, a container requires at least 20 tons of fruit. If a farmer harvests a fruit which is about 75% ripe, it can last for 30-35 days at normal room temperature.
Farmers are now demanding creation of cold storage facilities so that they can export in bulk by sea routes which will make them competitive in the international market.
Kamalam is grown by the farmers of Kutch, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Amreli. This fruit has a good export market in UK, Bahrain, Middle East countries, Maldives and even Bangladesh.
Haresh thacker A ‘Kamalam’ producer and exporter from Kutch said, “We do not have enough quantity to export by sea. On the other hand, the air freight charges are around Rs 250 per kg while the packaging cost is around Rs 50. This makes our fruit costlier by Rs 300. Thakar, who cultivates ‘Kamalam’ on 60 acres, exported about 3,400 kg of the produce in the last few months.
Kamalam is currently being exported through air cargo from Ahmedabad and Mumbai. According to exporters, Vietnam, one of the largest exporters of fruits to the world market, can afford to sell at a much cheaper rate as they export through sea routes.
“The lotus imported into India from Vietnam is being sold at Rs 80 per kg as the export cost by sea route is only Rs 10 per kg,” Thakar said.
Vishal Gada, one of the pioneers of ‘lotus’ cultivation in Kutch, has helped many farmers to adopt the new crop. bludgeon He is cultivating fruits in his field of more than 75 acres.
“We have exported only 100 kg through a Mumbai based exporter. We are exploring opportunities in the international market and are in talks with some exporters.
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