India successfully exported 20 metric tonnes of perishable Indian bananas to Russia via the sea route, employing a public-private cooperation model led by APEDA, CISH, and M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation Pvt. Ltd., with the aim of expanding agricultural exports. This achievement enhances India’s global presence and sets the stage for possibilities to export a wider variety of perishable fruits via sea, thereby increasing income, livelihoods, and employment opportunities especially within the banana supply chain. APEDA actively supports exporters with financial assistance and encourages the use of innovative shipping methods, especially for women entrepreneurs.
IndianBureaucracy, Mumbai – The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the export of 20 MT (1540 boxes) of bananas from India to Russia via Sea through M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai-based exporter of fruits and vegetables with a track record of exporting to the EU and the Middle East. The consignment was flagged off from Maharashtra by APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev in collaboration with the Central Institute of Sub-tropical Horticulture (CISH). APEDA emphasised the sea protocol developed by CISH to maintain fruit quality during transit.
Chairman APEDA encouraged exporters to use innovative shipping methods to reach new destinations, with APEDA’s support. He highlighted the financial assistance scheme, with special emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs. APEDA commended CISH for developing sea protocols and congratulated all involved in the successful flag-off.
Russia has expressed interest in procuring tropical fruits from India, particularly bananas, a major agricultural import for Russia, previously sourced mainly from Ecuador in Latin America.
The flagged-off consignment by M/s. Gurukrupa Corporation Pvt. Ltd., a registered exporter with APEDA, sourced bananas directly from Andhra Pradesh farmers. After harvesting, the bananas were processed in an APEDA-approved packhouse in Maharashtra before being transported to JNPT for shipment to Novorossiysk port, Russia.
Indian bananas are regularly exported to countries such as Iran, Iraq, UAE, Oman, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. Opportunities also exist in the USA, Russia, Japan, Germany, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and France.
India, led by Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, contributes 67% to the country’s banana production. Despite being the global leader in banana production, India’s export share is only 1%, amounting to USD 176 million in the fiscal year 2022-23.
India aims to achieve a USD 1 billion target in banana exports within the next five years. This initiative is expected to boost farmer income, improve livelihoods for over 25,000 farmers, and create employment for more than 50,000 individuals in the supply chain.
The increase in agricultural and processed food exports is a result of APEDA’s initiatives, including B2B exhibitions, market exploration campaigns, and collaboration with Indian Embassies. APEDA is committed to promoting exports, especially of fresh fruits and vegetables, to distant destinations by developing sea protocols to preserve their quality.
