Bhubaneswar:Odisha’s horticulture sector reached a new milestone today with its first-ever export of dragon fruit. From the Biju Patnaik International Airport cargo terminal in Bhubaneswar, four quintals of dragon fruit, organically grown in Patnagarh, Balangir district, were dispatched to Dubai via Indigo Cargo.
This export signifies a new chapter for Odisha’s horticulture industry, which has previously seen exports of mangoes from Dhenkanal and parwal from Bolangir. The state government is now focusing on expanding horticulture, encouraging farmers to adopt and benefit from this practice.
Deputy Chief Minister Singhdeo, a self-identified proud farmer, highlighted the success of a decision made during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now resulted in this fruit export. He emphasized that the dragon fruit, grown without chemical fertilizers, retains its nutrients better and remains fresh longer, providing numerous health benefits such as reducing the risk of cancer, diabetes, and constipation.
Singhdeo also noted that the state government provides several incentives to support horticulture. These include subsidies through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), farm ponds, and irrigation systems. The emphasis on horticulture is driven by increasing demand and the potential for higher returns on investment for farmers.
Principal Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE), Dr. Arabinda Padhee, outlined future goals for the sector. He expressed the aim to scale up the export of high-quality agricultural products from Odisha to international markets.
The event was marked by a ceremonial coconut-breaking and flagging off of the export by Singhdeo. The ceremony was attended by Director of Horticulture Nikhil Pawan Kalyan, senior officials from the Department, and representatives from APEDA and Palladium, including Sitakanta Mandal, Biswajit Behera, Debarati Ghatak, Arthak Darshan, Sritam Panigrahi, Bibhuti, and Bikash Pilai.
