Itanagar, Oct 27: Arunachal Pradesh has taken a step towards entering international horticulture markets with the dispatch of a 1.5-tonne trial consignment of kiwi fruit to Dubai in the UAE, for display at outlets of LuLu Hypermarket LLC.
The consignment was flagged off at the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Secretariat here on Monday to explore export opportunities for the State’s kiwi growers and expand overseas market access for local agricultural produce.
Agriculture and Allied Departments Minister Gabriel D Wangsu attended the ceremony, along with MLA and Advisor to the Trade and Commerce Minister Dr Mohesh Chai and Ziro-Hapoli MLA Hage Appa. Officials from the departments concerned, representatives of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and kiwi growers were also present.
The initiative has been undertaken by the state Departments of Trade and Commerce and Horticulture in collaboration with APEDA under the Arunachal Kiwi Project.
The shipment will be used for promotional display at LuLu Hypermarket outlets to showcase the quality of Arunachal-grown kiwi and assess its commercial potential in overseas markets.
The initiative aims to strengthen market linkages, encourage value addition and improve farmers’ incomes. It also seeks to highlight the importance of quality standards, post-harvest management and packaging in meeting international market requirements.
The trial shipment is expected to help identify potential buyers and assess prospects for sustainable export channels, paving the way for kiwi and other potential export commodities from the State.