In a significant boost to the prospects of fresh fruit exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the export of the first trial shipment of fresh bananas to the Netherlands via a sea route.

World’s largest banana producer

Despite being the world’s largest banana producer, India’s export share is currently just one percent in the global market, even though the country accounts for 26.45 per cent of the world’s banana production at 35.36 million metric tonnes (MMT). 

In the fiscal year 2022-23, India exported bananas worth $176 million, equivalent to 0.36 MMT.

The major export destinations for Indian bananas include Iran, Iraq, UAE, Oman, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. Additionally, there are abundant export opportunities in countries such as the US, Russia, Japan, Germany, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and France.

Andhra Pradesh is the largest banana-producing state, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. These five states collectively contribute around 67 per cent to India's banana production in the fiscal year 2022-23.

Significance of this trial shipment

The long-distance market and high costs were obstacles to starting commercial operations, and the export of the first trial shipment of bananas will help build capacities among Indian exporters and European Union importers by ensuring the export of quality fruits.

With the first trial shipment to the European market, it is estimated that India may be able to export bananas worth more than $1 billion in the next five years.

This could also lead to an increase in the income of more than 25,000 farmers and create rural livelihoods directly for over 10,000 people in the supply chain and indirectly provide employment for over 50,000 people on farms.

The increase in the export of agricultural and processed food products is a result of various initiatives undertaken by APEDA to promote agricultural and processed food product exports.

What is APEDA?

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the government under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by Parliament in December 1985. The Act came into effect on February 13, 1986.

• APEDA, which replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC), has its headquarters in New Delhi.

• In order to reach out to exporters in different parts of the country, APEDA has set up five regional offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Guwahati and 13 virtual offices in Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneshwar, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Imphal, Agartala, Kohima, Chennai, Raipur,  Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow and Panaji.

• APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility of export promotion and development of 14 agricultural and processed food product groups listed in the Schedule to the APEDA Act. In addition to this, APEDA has been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor the import of sugar as well.

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