Odisha Farmers Export Colocasia and Papaya to Ireland, Marking a New Milestone in Agriculture

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has added a new feather to its cap in the agriculture sector by stepping into the global vegetable export market. For the first time, 100 kg of colocasia and 320 kg of green papaya from Dhenkanal district were exported to Ireland through Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.

This achievement was made possible under the leadership of the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, with support from the Gates Foundation and coordination by Palladium.

At the heart of this success is Saptasajya Agro Producer Company of Dhenkanal, a shining example of collective farmer strength. The farmer producer organization (FPO) has been working tirelessly to ensure fair prices for farmers while raising the demand for Odisha’s fresh produce in global markets. By exporting high-quality colocasia along with papaya to Ireland for the first time, the FPO has reached another milestone in its journey.

Officials highlighted that this is not just an export deal but a step towards giving Odisha’s farmers a global platform. Since 2024, more than 140 metric tons of fresh vegetables and fruits have been exported to 10 international markets under Palladium’s facilitation and the leadership of the Agriculture Department. Farmers involved in these exports have earned 40% to 62% higher value for their produce.

Agriculture experts noted that such initiatives will make farmers more self-reliant, strengthen rural livelihoods, and enable Odisha to meet global market demands. The achievement of Saptasajya Agro Producer Company has also become a source of inspiration for other farmer producer organizations and cultivators across the state.

With this milestone, Odisha is steadily transforming from an importer of vegetables to a significant contributor in international exports, reinforcing its vision of a prosperous and globally recognized agricultural economy.