Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift import ban on Indian chillies, officers and farmers hope, will help to unlock the market doors of the Middle East for them. This year, nine farmer’s producer companies will participate in the export process- a first for the state in many years.
The presence of insecticide residue in vegetables two years ago had led to a ban on Indian vegetables like okra and green chillies to Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia. Efforts by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) and other government agencies had resulted in the lifting of the ban last week by Saudi Arabia. Milind Akre, managing director of the MSAMB, said the lifting of ban by would lead to opening of other Middle Eastern markets.
“The standards followed by the oil rich country are one of the highest in the region. As Saudi Arabia had lifted the ban, we hope other Middle Eastern countries will also lift the ban. The market in the region has good potential,” he said.
During the financial year of 2014-15, India had exported 8,35,501 metric tonnes of fresh vegetables worth Rs 2,402 crores. Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries constitute at least 80 per cent of the export market of which at least 60 per cent is from Maharashtra.
Chillies, okra, drumsticks and beans form the bulk of vegetables exported. In Maharashtra, districts of Pune, Nashik, Satara, Sangli, Ahmednagar and Beed lead in export of vegetables.
In order to prevent the recurrence of the same complaint, Akre said the state government along with Agricultural and Process Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) has developed a traceability mechanism called ‘hortinet’. Like the well-established ‘grapenet’ and ‘anarnet’, this software platform allows for testing and certification of vegetables for export. Till date, at least 4,000 farmers in the state have been registered on it. “Exporters are required to procure vegetables for export from such farmers only. Any deviation from this would be strictly dealt with,” he said.
This year along with exporters, farmer producer companies are also going to enter the fray for exporting vegetables. Shriram Gadve, president of the Vegetables Growers Associations of India (VGAI) said nine producer’s companies have procured export licences this year.
“90 per cent of the problems associated with exports of vegetables is due to the exporters. The law should make it mandatory for the exporters to procure from the farmers directly,” he said. Other than procuring exporters licence, VGAI would also be looking to identify and expand scopes for farmers in the Middle East. “We would be looking to reopen a facility in Dubai to push for exporters. The MSAMB had an office there, which has been closed for the last 10 years,” he said.
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