Syllabus: GS-III;
Subject: Economic Development
Topic: Food processing and related industries in India.
Context: With successfully exporting a trial shipment of fresh bananas to the Netherlands through sea route, India is now aiming to increase exports of this fruit to USD one billion in the next five years, an official said.
 Synopsis:
- Most fruit exports from India rely on air transportation due to lower volumes and varying ripening periods.
- India is actively developing sea protocols for fresh fruits like bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, and jackfruit to boost exports via ocean routes.
- Banana export destinations for India are expanding beyond the Middle East, with potential markets in the USA, Russia, Japan, Germany, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and France.
- Major banana-producing states in India include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
- The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), along with stakeholders, has developed protocols for bananas.
- Protocols cover aspects like understanding sea voyage time, scientifically managing ripening, identifying optimal harvest times, and providing farmer training.
- Despite being the world’s largest banana producer, India’s global export share is currently only 1%, though it contributes to 26.5% of the world’s banana production.
 Background:
What is APEDA?
- The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985. It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the scheduled products.
