Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh is setting its sights on significantly enhancing its agricultural exports, particularly of organic produce, following key recommendations made by the Centre for Agri Infrastructure Research and Action (CAIRA) at a recent International Conclave cum Buyer Seller Meet held in Tawang.
The event, organized by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Arunachal Government, highlighted the state’s potential and the crucial need for infrastructure development to realize it.
CAIRA proposed two major strategies to unlock better prices for the state’s organic produce. The first involves establishing efficient transportation routes for non-perishable items destined for major export centers, coupled with the creation of primary processing facilities within Arunachal Pradesh at strategic aggregation points. This would streamline the supply chain and reduce post-harvest losses. The second key suggestion focuses on investing in pre-cooling infrastructure and refrigerated transport (reefer vans) to maintain a robust cold chain for non-perishable produce. This is particularly vital given estimates indicating that Arunachal farmers currently lose about 10 percent of their fruit value due to inadequate post-harvest handling.
Siraj Hussain, Chairman of CAIRA, also presented an initial analysis of the kiwi supply chain in Arunachal Pradesh, noting that while India’s kiwi imports have increased, the state’s production has stagnated. The CAIRA analysis revealed that kiwi yields in Arunachal are considerably lower than in neighboring Meghalaya. To address this, CAIRA recommended equipping pack-houses with modern sorting, grading, and temperature control systems. Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of organic branding, which could command a 15 percent price premium for the produce.
Hussain also lauded a prior successful intervention by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which collaborated with the state government to construct godowns in remote locations such as Yingkiong, Tawang, Anini, Ziro, Seppa, Bomdila, Roing, Khupa, Tezu, and Aalo. This initiative has proven instrumental in lowering logistical costs and improving food grain storage, as evidenced by the state’s ability to maintain a six-month stock of food grains even during the Covid-19 pandemic, a testament to the impact of infrastructure investment.
The International Buyer-Seller Meet witnessed strong commitment from the state leadership. Chief Minister Pema Khandu reiterated his government’s dedication to strengthening Arunachal Pradesh’s agricultural and allied sectors, emphasizing the significant export potential of its GI-tagged products like Khamti Rice, Mandarin Oranges, Kiwi, and Yak Cheese to South East Asian and ASEAN countries. Acknowledging the existing gap in cold storage due to high power consumption, he highlighted the potential of leveraging the state’s abundant hydropower resources to bridge this gap and enhance agri-export readiness.
Agriculture Minister Gabriel Denwang Wangsu stressed the necessity of building farmer capacity and market awareness to ensure better pricing for high-quality produce, including kiwi, apples, and value-added products. APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev underscored the critical role of identifying and supporting Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) from the state for participation in trade fairs and market outreach initiatives. He assured close collaboration between APEDA and the state government to facilitate infrastructure development, capacity building, branding, and promotion of Arunachal’s agricultural and value-added products.
The event also saw the participation of Chief Secretary Manish Gupta and several other senior officials from both central and state governments, underscoring the unified commitment to bolstering Arunachal Pradesh’s agricultural ecosystem. The International Conclave cum Buyer-Seller Meet facilitated direct interactions between 11 international buyers from the UAE, Nepal, and Bhutan with 17 Indian exporters from Assam, Maharashtra, Delhi, Hyderabad, Karnataka, Gujarat, and West Bengal. These exporters also engaged with over 50 FPOs and more than 350 farmers from Arunachal Pradesh, providing a platform to understand the quality, availability, and production quantities of the region’s diverse agricultural produce.
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