The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has unveiled a fresh strategy to enhance the international export of agro-processed fruits from Himachal Pradesh, aiming to provide global opportunities for the state's organic produce. This announcement was made by Monica Gaur, Director of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, during a stakeholder engagement workshop held at Fagu near Shimla on Sunday.
Workshop Highlights
The workshop, themed 'Export of Agricultural Processed Food and Beverage Products from Himachal Pradesh,' was jointly organized by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation Limited (HPMC).
In her address, Monica Gaur emphasized the immense export potential of agri and horticulture products from Himachal Pradesh. She stressed the need to strengthen market linkages, value addition, and export-oriented infrastructure in the state. The new strategy is designed to leverage these strengths and connect local producers with international markets.
Keynote Address
Nitin Yadav, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, delivered the keynote address. He underscored the importance of linking Himachal Pradesh's horticulture sector with global markets and maximizing the benefits of various central government schemes aimed at boosting exports of high-value fresh and processed horticultural products. Yadav highlighted that better logistics and post-harvest management are critical to achieving these goals.
Stakeholder Perspectives
D.C. Rana, Managing Director of HPMC, noted that connecting farmers with processing and export value chains could significantly increase their income and create new entrepreneurial opportunities in rural areas. He called for collaborative efforts to build a robust export ecosystem.
Discussions on Export Potential
During the workshop, detailed discussions were held on assessing the export potential of Himachal Pradesh's horticultural products, particularly stone fruits such as plums, peaches, apricots, and cherries, along with value-added products derived from them. Participants also explored establishing stronger links with international buyers, importers, and overseas markets to boost exports.
Opportunities and Challenges
Stakeholders identified opportunities for entrepreneurship in food processing, value addition, packaging, branding, marketing, and export promotion. They also discussed challenges related to market access, logistics, quality standards, product aggregation, post-harvest management, cold-chain infrastructure, and export facilitation.
The workshop was attended by senior officials from the union government, the Himachal Pradesh government, HPMC, industry representatives, exporters, entrepreneurs, processing units, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and other stakeholders. The collective aim was to chart a path for Himachal's horticulture sector to achieve a stronger foothold in global markets.
