Boosting agribusiness, India exports first consignment of vegetables to UAE

The article highlights a significant milestone for Uttarakhand's agricultural exports with the dispatch of the first consignment of vegetables to Dubai, including curry leaf, okra, pear, and bitter gourd. This follows the successful export of millets to Denmark in May 2021. The exports were facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce Marketing Board (UKAPMB), and exporter Just Organik. The vegetables and millets meet the organic certification standards of the European Union. The Uttarakhand government has been encouraging organic farming, and UKAPMB is supporting farmers in obtaining organic certification. APEDA is planning to establish a pack-house in Uttarakhand to meet the infrastructure requirements for exporting fresh fruits and vegetables. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, India saw a nearly 9% increase in fruit and vegetable exports, valued at Rs 11,019 crore, compared to the previous year.