Maharashtra is all set to export record 40,000 to 60,000 tonne of pomegranates in the coming season beginning November. In 2014-15 season, the state had exported a record 40,000 tonne of pomegranate, an increase of nearly 33% compared to the previous season.
Prices have picked up after a poor start and doubled from R40-50 per kg to R100 per kg for farmers, said Prabhakar Chandane, chairman, Maharashtra Pomegranate Growers Research Association.
While the deficient monsoon has affected other crops, for pomegranates, less rains mean lesser possibility of fungal infections, he pointed out. Cultivation of pomegranates is on the rise not only in the state but also across the country, Chandane said.
In addition to Maharashtra, pomegranates are now being cultivated in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Around 1.25-1.3 tonnes of production is expected in the coming season.
While the government quotes figures of 9 million hectares, the association says the crop is cultivated on some 14 million hectares, 1.5 times more than the earlier acreage, he said.
Maharashtra contributes 90% to the country’s total pomegranate production. The second season of harvesting is to come up in January-February period. The first season for the crop comes up in the July to September period.
Normally, the export season begins in November every year and is completed by March. However, the season extended up to April this year, Chandane said.
For exports, West Asia continues to remain one of the biggest markets for India, Chandane said. This year, India also exported pomegranates to countries such as Bangladesh, Bahrain, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
Although Russia emerged as a new market last year, traders are not keen to send products there owing to payment issues in the previous year, Chandane said. The UK, the UAE, the Netherlands, Egypt, Turkey, Bahrain and Kuwait are other important markets for the fruit.
In addition to increased acreage, new markets are also opening up, he said. In all likelihood markets in the US are also expected to open up next year.
Source:freshplaza.com
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