Gujarat fruit producers eye European markets

Following fruit exports to the US, West Asia and Southeast Asia, farmers of south Gujarat are now eyeing the European markets, which have a huge demand for fruits such as bananas, mangoes, chickoo, papaya and pomegranates.

Recently, 20 farmers from Navsari, Valsad and adjoining areas have received the EurepGap accreditation for exporting their produce to the European markets.

The Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification of the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP), popularly known as EurepGap, is mandatory for exporting fruits and vegetables to Europe.

Till now, a majority of the horticultural produce from the south Gujarat belt used to be exported to West Asia, Southeast Asia and the US.

The Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP) represents leading European food retailers and aims to promote good production practices in the agricultural sector in order to ensure food safety.

"Recently, as many as 20 farmers from Navsari, Valsad and adjoining areas of south Gujarat have received EurepGap to export their produce to the European markets. Many more farmers are in the process of getting the certification," said Ajit Desai, the chairman and MD of Navsari-based Desai Fruits and Vegetables.

Several leading European supermarkets and retailers such as Tesco, ASDA, Metro Group and Albert Heijn are a part of the EUREP, according to Desai.

"The EurepGap requires farmers to follow good practices such as traceability, record keeping, varieties and rootstocks, site history and site management, soil and substrate management, fertiliser usage, irrigation, crop protection, harvesting, post-harvest treatments, waste and pollution management, recycling, reuse, worker health, safety and welfare, environmental issues and internal audit," he said.

"The major horticultural produce in south Gujarat includes bananas, mangoes, papaya, chickoo and pomegranates. The region also exports assorted vegetables to foreign markets. The bananas have a major share in exports as they have a higher sugar content and a strong flavor. The US and Japan have also emerged as major markets for fruit producers of this region after they lifted the ban imposed on Indian mangoes recently," Desai added.

Eleven cooperative societies in Valsad and Navsari in south Gujarat, following a tie-up with ITC, exported around 200 tonnes of Kesar and Alphonso mangoes to the Gulf region in 2006.

Over the last few years, exports have grown substantially, from 40 tonnes in 2004 to 100 tonnes in 2005 and 200 tonnes in 2006, following the partnership of cooperatives with ITC, which began three years ago.

Valsad's Mandava Horticulture Cooperative Society exported 80 tonnes of Kesar in 2006, up from 60 tonnes in 2005. The Navsari-based Vasundhara Cooperative exported 26 trucks of Kesar in 2006 (one truck accounts for around 9 tonnes of mangoes).

Farmers that meet EurepGap criteria receive a certificate, which is issued by a EurepGap-approved certification body. They can also opt for the EurepGap Benchmarking Option, which certifies that existing national or regional quality assurance schemes are compliant with EurepGap requirements.