Gujarat's mango exports cross 3,000 MT in five years; U.S., South Africa top importers
The state has 1.77 lakh hectares under mango cultivation, which accounts for 37% of Gujarat's total area under fruit and flower crops. Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel said that the Kesar mango continues to be in demand and is grown in multiple districts, including Talala Gir, which has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the variety. In addition to Talala Gir, the Kutch region has also seen an expansion in Kesar cultivation.
Valsad district currently has the highest area under mango cultivation at 38,000 hectares, followed by Navsari with 34,800 hectares, Gir Somnath with 18,400 hectares, Kutch with 12,000 hectares, and Surat with 10,200 hectares. Other mango varieties grown in Gujarat include Alphonso, Rajapuri, Totapuri, and Sonpari.
This year, 224 metric tonnes of Kesar mangoes were irradiated and exported through the Gujarat Agro Radiation Processing Facility at Bavla near Ahmedabad. This unit is Gujarat's first USDA-APHIS certified gamma irradiation facility and the fourth in India. Since its inception, the Bavla facility has processed and exported 805 metric tonnes of mangoes over five years.
Earlier, farmers had to transport mangoes to Mumbai for irradiation, which led to higher costs and losses after harvest. With the Bavla unit, farmers now access this facility within the state, reducing travel costs and improving output handling.
Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd., under the state Agriculture Department, has also developed a pack house and a perishable air cargo complex in Ahmedabad district. These are aimed at improving the mango export infrastructure. With USDA-APHIS certification, all three units are now operational. They assist in handling mangoes and pomegranates, lower post-harvest losses, and support consistent export standards.
Officials said these efforts are part of the government's larger plan to improve agricultural logistics and expand market access for fruit growers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Bullion prices cause gold, silver zari production to fall
Surat: While renowned as a diamond manufacturing hub, Surat is also the only urban centre in India that produces pure gold and silver zari, a craft that has been accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The industry in Surat is, however, seeing a drop in production of real gold and silver zari (called jari in Surat) due to the high price of gold. Gold zari is now accounting for less than 10% of the city's zari output, with imitation and yarn zari seeing their share increase due to their lower cost. Traditionally, real gold and silver zari are a crucial component of Kanjivaram silk saris, which are woven in Tamil Nadu. The recent surge in gold prices has led to the cost of zari rising and inflating the prices of these exquisite saris as well. This poses a challenge to manufacturers and consumers, as these traditional garments get more unaffordable. "Pure zari sari prices now start at higher than Rs 4 lakh, leaving a very small segment of customers. Due to the drop in demand for gold and silver zari, most manufacturers have shifted to imitation or yarn zari," said Bipin Jariwala, president of Surat Jari Manufacturers Association (SJMA). Metallic yarn zari costs around Rs 300 per kg, while imitation zari costs around Rs 2,500 per kg, which is made on copper or brass wire. Yarn zari has captured 50% of the market with 600 metric tonnes manufactured each month. Imitation zari has a 40% share and the rest is gold and silver zari. "Before Covid, pure gold and silver zari had a 25% share in Surat's manufacturing, but the increase in gold prices has pushed it below 10%," said Navinchandra Jariwala, a former president of the SJMA. Gold sales in India saw a decline of around 60% in June compared to last year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "At these high prices, it is challenging for manufacturers to invest in gold and silver to make zari. I was into pure gold and silver zari manufacturing, but recently we started manufacturing imitation zari," added Jariwala. Textile business leaders say fast-changing fashion trends are also a reason for the drop in demand. "In the past, women would buy gold and silver zari saris to use on multiple occasions over longer periods. Now, fashion changes fast and a new sari is not repeated by many. In such a scenario, only a small number of people buy these expensive sarees," said Kailash Hakim, president, Federation of Surat Trade and Textile Associations (FOSTTA).
Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Indian Express
India-UK free trade deal opens UK shelves to feni from Goa, Nashik's wines, and Kerala's toddy
India's new free trade agreement with the UK is set to give a global push to its homegrown flavours — from Goa's fiery feni and Nashik's artisanal wines to Kerala's traditional toddy. These iconic beverages will soon enjoy Geographical Indication (GI) protection and duty-free access in the UK, opening doors to premium retail shelves and hospitality chains. Signed on Thursday, in the FTA signed by India, has protected the interest of domestic farmers by excluding dairy products, edible oils, and apples from the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK, while securing zero duties on 95 per cent of agriculture and processed food items. No tariff concession has been allowed on oats either. On the other hand, Indian staples like turmeric, pepper, cardamom; processed goods like mango pulp, pickles, and pulses; and marine products such as shrimp and tuna will enjoy duty-free access in the UK market, boosting India's agri exports by 20 per cent over the next three years. As per a report by PTI, a commerce ministry official said the biggest wins are in the food processing sector, where products that earlier faced duties up to 70 per cent will now face zero duty on 99.7 per cent of tariff lines. In marine and animal products, tariffs that were previously up to 20 per cent will also drop to zero. 'India's farmers are poised to be the biggest winners of the FTA, which unlocks premium UK markets for their produce, matching or exceeding the benefits already enjoyed by exporters from Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU nations,' the official said, PTI quoted. More than 95 per cent of agricultural and processed food tariff lines will now attract zero duties on fruits, vegetables, cereals; pickles, spice mixes, fruit pulps; and ready-to-eat meals and processed foods. This reduction is expected to bring down landed costs in the UK, making Indian products more competitive and boosting exports. 'Duty-free access is expected to increase agri exports by over 20 per cent in the next three years, contributing to India's goal of USD 100 billion in agri-exports by 2030,' the official added. Emerging products such as jackfruit, millets, and organic herbs are also expected to benefit, helping Indian farmers tap into new consumer trends in the UK. Currently, the UK imports agricultural goods worth USD 37.52 billion annually, but Indian exports account for just USD 811 million — indicating vast potential for growth. Marine and blue economy products will also gain a major edge. The FTA provides for zero-duty access for 99 per cent of India's marine exports — including shrimp, tuna, fishmeal, and feeds — which currently face duties in the range of 4.2 to 8.5 per cent. 'Despite the UK's USD 5.4 billion marine import market, India's share is just 2.25 per cent — showing a huge untapped opportunity,' the commerce ministry official noted. The FTA is also expected to help boost exports of high-margin branded products like Indian coffee, tea, spices, and processed food. While the UK currently consumes only 1.7 per cent of India's coffee, the removal of tariffs (up to 10 per cent earlier) will allow Indian instant coffee to better compete with EU brands. The UK is also a significant buyer of Indian tea (5.6 per cent share), and spices (2.9 per cent). Zero duties on these items will help India expand its footprint in the UK's high-value retail market. In addition to the iconic beverages, other processed food exports are set to benefit too. India currently exports processed agriculture and food items worth USD 14.07 billion globally, but exports to the UK stand at a modest USD 309.5 million. The UK's overall import value of processed food is USD 50.68 billion, offering plenty of headroom. In the vegetable oils and plant-based segment, the FTA will eliminate tariffs that earlier went up to 20 per cent. This will support exporters of edible oils, oilseed derivatives, and other plant-based commodities. States such as Maharashtra (grapes, onions), Gujarat (groundnut, cotton), Punjab and Haryana (basmati rice), Kerala (spices), and the northeastern states (horticulture) are expected to gain significantly. Tea and coffee, which earlier attracted duties of up to 10 per cent, will now enjoy duty-free access. Spices and oilseeds, which faced up to 8 per cent tariffs, and fruits (up to 20 per cent), will also be exempt from duties. With these sweeping changes, the India-UK FTA promises to not only give Indian farmers greater market access and better returns, but also put India's regional specialities and cultural exports on global shelves — from local wines to legacy spirits and organic spices.
NDTV
15 hours ago
- NDTV
India Secures Zero Duty On 95% Farm Goods Exports In UK Trade Deal
New Delhi: India has protected the interests of domestic farmers by excluding dairy products, edible oils, and apples in the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK while securing zero duties on 95 per cent of agriculture and processed food items. No tariff concession has been allowed on oats as well in the FTA, which was signed on Thursday. On the other hand, Indian staples like turmeric, pepper, and cardamom; processed goods like mango pulp, pickles, and pulses; and marine products such as shrimp and tuna will enjoy duty-free access in the UK market. In agriculture, the UK imports USD 37.52 billion worth of products, but imports from India are just USD 811 million. "India's farmers are poised to be the biggest winners of the FTA, which unlocks premium UK markets for their produce, matching or exceeding the benefits already enjoyed by exporters from Germany, the Netherlands, and other EU nations," a commerce ministry official said. More than 95 per cent of agricultural and processed food tariff lines will attract zero duties on fruits, vegetables, cereals, pickles, spice mixes, fruit pulps, and ready-to-eat meals and processed foods. This will lead to a reduction in the landed cost of these Indian products in the UK market, boosting India's export and enhancing the income of domestic farmers. "Duty-free access is expected to increase agri exports by over 20 per cent in the next three years, contributing to India's goal of USD 100 billion agri-exports by 2030," the official said. The FTA would also give a boost to exports of emerging products such as jackfruits, millets, and organic herbs. With regard to the benefits for the blue economy, the FTA provides for zero-duty access for 99 per cent of exports, including shrimp, tuna, fishmeal, and feeds. These are currently taxed in the range of 4.2 - 8.5 per cent. "Despite the UK's USD 5.4 billion marine import market, India's share remains at just 2.25 per cent, underscoring a significant untapped export opportunity," the official pointed out. The FTA would also help India's export of high-margin branded products like coffee, spices, beverages, and processed food. Stating that the UK consumes 1.7 per cent of India's coffee, the official said duty-free access will help Indian instant coffee compete with EU exporters like Germany and Spain. The UK is a major buyer of Indian tea (5.6 per cent), while spices have a 2.9 per cent share. The zero tariffs will help enhance the country's market share. "Indian craft drinks like feni from Goa, artisanal wines from Nashik, and toddy from Kerala will now enjoy Geographical Indication (GI) protection and shelf space in high-end UK retail and hospitality chains," the official said. The FTA is set to help India's food processing sector. India exports USD 14.07 billion of processed agricultural and food products globally per year. The UK imports USD 50.68 billion worth of processed items, but Indian products make up for a mere USD 309.5 million. Farmers of various states in the country are likely to benefit from the FTA. The major beneficiaries are Maharashtra (grapes, onions), Gujarat (groundnut, cotton), Punjab and Haryana (basmati rice), Kerala (spices), and the NE states (horticulture).
