Karnataka to double pomegranate exports

Karnataka is set to double its pomegranate exports in the current year, to 2,000 tonne from 1,050 tonne in 2004-05, after growing by over 50 per cent on 2003-04 exports of 600 tonne.

"In the past five months, Karnataka has already exported 700 tonne and is likely to close the financial year with 2,000 tonne," G K Vasanthakumar, state director of horticulture said.

This 100 per cent increase in pomegranate exports has been possible due to the state horticulture department's initiative in focusing on a particular region to grow export variety pomegranates.

"The state horticulture department experimented in the Kushtagi-Koppal-Yelbarga region, and this has resulted in the region alone yielding about 500-600 tonne," said Vasanthakumar.

With this success, the department has identified two more regions - Bijapur-Bagalkot and Chitradurga-Tumkur - to replicate the Kushtagi-Koppal-Yelburga success, he added.

The state now ranks first in pomegranate exports with extensive cultivation in the districts of Bijapur, Koppal, Chitradurga and Tumkur.

Maharashtra, exporting around 600 tonne, stands at second. Pomegranates are mainly exported to the Gulf states and European countries.

In one year, the state's pomegranates coverage has increased by 2,000 hectares. "From the earlier coverage of 8,000 hectares it (pomegranates coverage) now stands at 10,000 hectares," said Vasanthakumar.