In a significant milestone for Meghalaya’s agricultural sector, the state has successfully exported 3.5 metric tons of organically grown pineapples to the Middle East.
This inaugural shipment of the season marks the fruition of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Meghalaya State Agriculture Marketing Board and Lulu Group International.
The agreement was inked in November 2023 during the ‘World Food India’ event, in the presence of Hon'ble Agriculture Minister Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh.
This year’s pineapple exports have witnessed a notable increase in price realisation, attributed to superior fruit quality and effective market positioning.
The state’s agricultural produce continues to set benchmarks, following the successful export of 20 metric tons of GI-tagged Khasi mandarin to Dubai last year, which fetched double the price in comparison to local markets.
This trend is expected to continue with the current pineapple consignment, which adheres to international standards and enhances Meghalaya’s reputation as a purveyor of premium agricultural products, ensuring better returns for local farmers.
The pineapples were meticulously sourced from various villages in the Tikirikilla block of West Garo Hills, under the aegis of the Muktidata Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
As the season progresses, additional consignments from other regions of Khasi and Garo Hills are slated for dispatch, further boosting farmers' incomes.
This export initiative is part of the broader 'Meghalaya Collectives,' a state government strategy aimed at collective marketing for small-scale farmers. The government’s comprehensive support includes packaging, branding, testing, and marketing assistance to agri-entrepreneurs and farmer cooperatives.
The initiative seeks to penetrate new domestic and international markets, leveraging modern trade channels, e-commerce platforms, and partnerships with prominent brands.
In a recent venture, the Meghalaya government collaborated with Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd., facilitating a trial shipment of 250 kilograms of pineapples to Delhi.
These pineapples were showcased for sale and free sampling at 10 Safal retail outlets across Delhi, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from consumers.
Consequently, Mother Dairy Pvt. Ltd. has placed an order for over 300 metric tons for the current season, with plans to expand distribution to additional outlets as the season progresses.
This trade is projected to offer nearly double the price realisation for pineapple farmers compared to local markets.
Furthermore, Mother Dairy has committed to exploring similar market linkages for other spices and fresh produce from Meghalaya.
Highlighting the state’s commitment to promoting its agricultural produce, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Conrad K Sangma recently visited a Safal outlet in New Delhi.
This initiative aims to establish a consistent value chain, ensuring the regular availability of Meghalaya's fruits to customers in Delhi and beyond.
Shri Manish Bandlish, Managing Director of Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd., remarked, “Introducing Meghalaya's pineapples into our product range showcases the region's rich agricultural diversity.
We look forward to working closely with farmers, supported by the Government of Meghalaya, to offer more unique products from fruits to spices.”
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