 "Kinnow")
A senior official at Punjab Agro Industries Corporation said about 5,000 tonnes of kinnow were exported to Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Dubai from the state last year and they have fixed an export target of at least 15,000 tonnes during the current year. The demand had increased in the existing markets due to good quality of fruit and efforts are also being made to explore new markets. Kinnow is mainly grown in Punjab and parts of Haryana and Rajasthan.
The downing of a Russian Jet by Turkey at its border with Syria late last year and poor quality of kinnow crop in Pakistan due to climate change opened up the floodgates for Indian kinnow growers in Russia, Ukraine and Dubai, triggering higher demand from buyers in these countries this year.
The state government has announced a grant of Rs 14 crore for distant marketing and export of kinnow, so as to ensure remunerative prices to the kinnow growers across the state.
Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal said that the state is committed to providing requisite infrastructure and marketing support to kinnow growers so that they can compete with their peers not only within the country, but in the international market also.
The state government is also seeking permission from the Government of India for fungicide laden wax to be used for waxing the kinnows as per international standards to qualify for export of their produce in the global market. The coating of this wax enhances the shelf life of the fruit. Discussions are also on with the Ministry of Railways for getting special air-conditioned rakes sanctioned for the shipment of the produce. Rakes provided well before the onset of the marketing season will enable kinnow producers to sell their produce to distant markets, such as the southern parts of the country.
