Horticulture exporters of Bengal grapple with challenges: APEDA
Times of India | 7 March 2024
KOLKATA: Horticulture exporters of Bengal are facing problems sending consignments to Italy, Bahrain, UAE, France, Nepal, and Bhutan due to high air freight costs, according to the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Sitakanta Mandal, the regional head of APEDA (ER), lamented that while there are around 300 horticulture exporters in Bengal, only 73 of them are exporting fresh fruits and vegetables to other countries.“The rest of the exporters are not finding it viable to send the consignments due to the high air freight costs. Vegetables and fruits are perishable goods, so they have to be sent by air only,” he said.
Speaking about the challenges of horticulture exporters at a conclave of the Merchant Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kolkata, Mandal said,“The Kolkata airport is being used by Bangladesh traders for exporting their goods like garments and apparels following a contact between the two countries, so our local exporters are not getting adequate cargo accommodation.”
Mandal also emphasized the process of Farm Registration because it is now mandatory for exporters who are willing to export vegetables and fruits to the European Union. “I request the Bengal government to set up laboratory testing facility for horticulture products as it will help exporters immensely. Also there needs to be private-public partnership for cultivation of honey in Sundarbans as it is in high demand,” said Mandal.
“I have come to know that when entrepreneurs ask for loans under government schemes to start new enterprises, banks tell them to produce balance sheets. How will they show balance sheets when their enterprises are yet to be formed? The issue needs to be resolved,” said Gupta
Col. Sujay Kumar, Regional Director, FSSAI spoke about Clean Food Hub for street venders. “We have chosen four streets in Kolkata, where local food vendors will be trained in maintaining hygiene. Our Eat Right India Initiative aims to train 25 lakh food handlers in the near future,” he said.