Introduction

India’s APEDA-certified pomegranates finally entered the Australian market in what can be termed a milestone achievement in the history of international trade and agricultural exports. APEDA had supported the export of Indian pomegranate from Mumbai to Melbourne on 31st August 2024. This will act as one of those mileposts to showcase the rapidly growing recognition of Indian agricultural produce in the world.

The first consignment of 1.1 metric tonnes, comprising 336 boxes of pomegranates weighing 3.5 kgs each, was under treatment for irradiation at MSAMB IFC, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, for export protocol. The treatment was aimed at meeting the import conditions of Australia for quarantine purposes. The shipment of fresh produce was handled by Mumbai-based fruit and vegetable exporter Kay Bee Exports, which utilized Air India's direct flight from Mumbai to Melbourne to ensure delivery at just the right time.

As per Karan Mange, Head of Air Freight and Supply Chain Manager, Kay Bee Exports shipments add up to around 1.2 tonnes of pomegranates a week to cities across Australia, such as Melbourne and Sydney. They have exported around five tonnes of the 'Bhagwa' variety of pomegranates from Maharashtra, showcasing for the first time the quality and taste of this Indian fruit in the Australian market. Pomegranates are sorted, cleaned, and packed at the company's facilities at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra before they undergo irradiation and airlifting.

In 2020, Australia gave market access to Indian pomegranates but with cold treatment in the initial protocol, which was not workable. Signing of a work plan and Standard Operating Procedure for pomegranate export in February 2024 run for irradiation as alternative treatment smoothed the way for easy exports and opened up new avenues for Indian farmers and exporters.

As the second-biggest producer of horticulture crops in the world, it puts India in the position of a major stakeholder in the world pomegranate market. The area under cultivation of pomegranate in the country is about 275,500 hectares. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are the major producing states. India has exported 72,011 metric tonnes of pomegranate to the international markets worth USD 69.08 million during the fiscal period 2023-24.

APEDA has also established export promotion forums in an attempt to help and expand pomegranate exports, whereby all government departments, state representatives, and exporters meet together to sort out problems and fine-tune supply chains to increase exports. Another example is sea protocols for long-distance shipments developed by APEDA, which evidences its commitment to high product quality and better market reach.

APEDA, a statutory body under the Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry is working dedicatedly for the promotion of Indian Agro and processed food exports. Similarly, other areas of work include organizing international exhibitions and exploring new markets in collaboration with Indian embassies for promoting Indian agro-products. APEDA- certified Pomegranate export to Australia has turned out to be an example of how Indian agricultural products can reach and win recognition in the global market.