The FPOs have enhanced income of around 40,000 farmers of Purvanchal

VARANASI, Oct 15 (The CONNECT) – Air India Express’ aircraft carrying two tonnes of green vegetables originating from Prayagraj, Bhadohi and Varanasi took off from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Babatpur for Dubai and Sharjah.

The vegetables being exported include okra, sweet gourd (nenua), pointed gourd (parwal), ivy gourd (kundru) and elephant foot yam (jimikand).

Earlier, in 2020, langda mangoes, green chilly and black salt rice had been exported to the UK, Qatar and the UAE.  

These developments clearly indicate that the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh is fast emerging as the export hub for green vegetables within the country, a State government official explained.

The increased frequency of exports of green vegetables and mangoes to the UK and the Gulf region from Purvanchal has also enabled not only the large Indian expatriate population, but other foreign residents, as well as the sheikhs of the Gulf region, to get to taste their choicest Indian vegetables and fruits more often.

Another significant development that has taken place due to PM Modi’s and CM Yogi’s efforts is that farmers are exporting food items directly, sans involvement of middlemen which is bringing them more financial benefits while ensuring transparency in the system.

The farmers are exporting their farm produce through the  Farmer Producer Organization (FPO). The FPO also facilitates training of the farmers and ensures availability of good seeds and fertilisers to them. In times of calamity and natural disasters, the farmers get adequate compensation also.

The FPOs have enhanced income of around 40,000 farmers of Purvanchal. It is worth mentioning here that there are around 15-20 farmers associated with one FPO whereas about 35 to 40 FPOs are active in Purvanchal.

Exporters have also purchased 80 tonnes of black salt rice from farmers of Chandauli district, popularly known as the ‘rice bowl’ of UP, with the efforts of APEDA in June, 2020. Around Rs 68 lakhs raised from the export of the rice was directly transferred to the bank accounts of 152 farmers. Besides, 532 metric tonnes of regional rice, including 12 metric tonnes of the famous black salt rice of Chandauli was exported to Qatar in December. Oman's Global Logistics Group also visited Varanasi in order to boost exports.

Export licences are being given to more and more FPOs since July, 2020 to bring more economic benefits to farmers, a State government spokesperson said.