India has exported its first consignment of fresh jamun from Karnataka to London, according to The Print. This marks a significant milestone as previously, only frozen berries were shipped from India.
The shipment, facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce, was sourced directly from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), ensuring better farm-level pricing. Exporter Parthasaradhi of Ananta Organic Products Pvt Ltd stated that farmers typically receive around $0.60 to $0.72 per kilogram domestically. Still, the export is fetching them approximately $1.32 per kilogram, nearly doubling their income.
The jamun consignment was packed at a government-approved facility certified by APEDA and Plant Quarantine authorities, set up under Karnataka's Department of Horticulture. Karnataka remains one of India's primary producers of jamun, a fruit highly valued for its medicinal and nutritional benefits.
This development not only opens up new international markets for India's traditional fruits but also reinforces the role of structured FPO engagement and government-backed infrastructure in supporting smallholder farmers' access to premium markets.
Source: The Print