Bhubaneswar;4/9/24:The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Directorate of Horticulture with support from Palladium as the technical support unit (TSU) of the Promotion and Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) project facilitated first ever export of dragon fruits from Patnagarh, Balangir district of Odisha to Dubai. Around 4 Quintals of premium quality, organically grown dragon fruit has been supplied to Dubai through Bhubaneswar International Airport on 4th Sep 2024.
Honourable Deputy Chief Minister Shri. K V Singh Deo, Principal Secretary Dr Arabinda K Padhee, IAS, Director of Horticulture Mr Nikhil Pavan Kalyan, IAS, Regional Director of APEDA Mr. Sitakanta Mandal, Associate Director of Palladium Mr. Biswajit Behera, along with the team members of PSFPO, representatives from the Airport Authority of India, World Trade Centre, and VeloExim flagged off the consignment at the airport.
The Dragon fruits, known for their vibrant red flesh and superior size were meticulously cultivated using organic practices. Despite their quality, local market saturation had led to low prices—ranging from Rs 120 to 160 per kg. However, this export initiative has elevated the status of Dragon fruit, fetching a price of Rs 250 to 260 per kg in the international market.
Deputy CM K.V. Singh Deo, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting its significant impact on the state’s agricultural exports. He stated: Mr. Biswajit Behera, Associate Director of Palladium, shared his thoughts on the successful export initiative, stating his achievement reflects the tireless efforts of Palladium India, which has been working closely with the Odisha government to strengthen the Farmer’s ecosystem. Their initiatives include upskilling farmers, enhancing supply chains, and facilitating market development. Notably, through collaboration with APEDA, they have successfully exported mangoes and vegetables in recent months. Plans include expanding exports to new markets and initiating spice exports to the European Union.