Shimla/Fagu June 7
Himachal Pradesh’s organic fruits are set to gain wider access to international markets under a new export strategy formulated by the Government of India, Director, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Monica Gaur said on Sunday.
She was addressing a stakeholder engagement workshop on “Export of Agro-processed Food & Beverage Products of Himachal Pradesh,” organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) at Fagu in Shimla district.
The workshop brought together senior officials from the Centre and the state government, exporters, entrepreneurs, processing units, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and industry representatives to deliberate on strategies for boosting exports of horticultural produce and value-added products from Himachal Pradesh.
Highlighting the state’s vast horticultural potential, Gaur stressed the need for stronger market linkages, enhanced value addition and export-oriented infrastructure. She said the Centre’s new strategy for agro-processed fruit exports would open global opportunities for Himachal’s organically grown produce.
HPMC Managing Director D.C. Rana underlined the corporation’s role in procurement, processing, branding and marketing of horticultural products. He said integrating farmers into processing and export value chains could significantly enhance incomes while creating new entrepreneurial opportunities in rural areas.
Delivering the keynote address, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Nitin Yadav urged stakeholders to make optimum use of Central government schemes to connect Himachal’s horticulture sector with international markets and promote exports of high-value fresh and processed products.
Discussions during the workshop focused on assessing the export potential of stone fruits such as plum, peach, apricot and cherry, along with value-added products derived from them. Participants also explored avenues for strengthening ties with international buyers, expanding food processing enterprises, improving packaging and branding, and promoting exports of fruit juices, concentrates, jams, squashes, pickles and canned products.
The deliberations also addressed challenges related to market access, logistics, quality standards, product aggregation, post-harvest management, cold-chain infrastructure and export facilitation.
Stakeholders described the workshop as a significant step towards building stronger collaboration between government agencies, exporters, processors and farmer groups, while unlocking the export potential of Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture sector.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Tarun Bajaj, who appreciated the contribution of all stakeholders in strengthening the state’s export ecosystem.
