<p>Hubballi: Nearly 250 kg consignment of local Jamun variety from Karnataka was shipped to London recently. This is the first time such a huge quantity of raw jamun, which is said to have a very high medicinal qualities and low shelf life, is being airlifted from India.</p><p>Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal recently shared the news on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) regarding the export of the fruit to London. The first consignment was procured from a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in Nelmangala and was shipped from Bengaluru on June 19 and reached London on June 23. If there is positive feedback, Karnataka farmers are expected to export another tonne of the fruit to London in the next week.</p><p>The arid areas of Karnataka, including Kolar, Chikkabalapur, Tumakuru, Ballari, Koppal and other districts, are among the highest grower of jamun. The fruit is in very high demand not just in the domestic market but also abroad for its medicinal qualities. Doctors say it could help regulate blood sugar-levels.</p><p>Until now the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) used to export only frozen jamun or its seed powder to foreign markets. Exporting fresh fruit by will not only open up new avenues for farmers. </p><p>Maresh K N, a farmer from Sidlaghatta’s Kannamangala says the domestic market for jamun is very volatile. “I have sold a kg of jamun for Rs 300 and also Rs 10. There have been instances where I have not harvested the fruits in my 2.5 acres of land as labourer and transport cost would be much higher than the returns.”</p><p>“Exporting of the fruit might help market prices to stabilise,” he says. </p><p>One of the biggest challenges for both growers and traders is the fragile nature of the fruit. Traders say transporting the fruit even to the domestic market is difficult as the fruit starts to break and rot. Jamun is harvested for nearly one-and-a-half months between May and June. Excess of rain can adversely affect the longevity of the fruit from fungus and pests.</p><p>Food entrpreneur Parthasardhi Nara says India can increase the export of jamun across the globe if it starts packaging and preserving the fruit properly. </p><p>Nara says processing and technology can help farmers export medicinal and high-value fruits.</p><p>U Dharma Rao, General Manager of APEDA, who was instrumental in the first export of jamun, says they are hopeful of getting a positive response from London. “We are also looking at the USA, Europe and the Middle East as the next big market.”</p><p>He also rejected the argument that export of jamun to foreign countries will increase the prices locally, as the quantity being supplied is very minuscule compared to domestic consumption.</p>
<p>Hubballi: Nearly 250 kg consignment of local Jamun variety from Karnataka was shipped to London recently. This is the first time such a huge quantity of raw jamun, which is said to have a very high medicinal qualities and low shelf life, is being airlifted from India.</p><p>Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal recently shared the news on his ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) regarding the export of the fruit to London. The first consignment was procured from a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in Nelmangala and was shipped from Bengaluru on June 19 and reached London on June 23. If there is positive feedback, Karnataka farmers are expected to export another tonne of the fruit to London in the next week.</p><p>The arid areas of Karnataka, including Kolar, Chikkabalapur, Tumakuru, Ballari, Koppal and other districts, are among the highest grower of jamun. The fruit is in very high demand not just in the domestic market but also abroad for its medicinal qualities. Doctors say it could help regulate blood sugar-levels.</p><p>Until now the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) used to export only frozen jamun or its seed powder to foreign markets. Exporting fresh fruit by will not only open up new avenues for farmers. </p><p>Maresh K N, a farmer from Sidlaghatta’s Kannamangala says the domestic market for jamun is very volatile. “I have sold a kg of jamun for Rs 300 and also Rs 10. There have been instances where I have not harvested the fruits in my 2.5 acres of land as labourer and transport cost would be much higher than the returns.”</p><p>“Exporting of the fruit might help market prices to stabilise,” he says. </p><p>One of the biggest challenges for both growers and traders is the fragile nature of the fruit. Traders say transporting the fruit even to the domestic market is difficult as the fruit starts to break and rot. Jamun is harvested for nearly one-and-a-half months between May and June. Excess of rain can adversely affect the longevity of the fruit from fungus and pests.</p><p>Food entrpreneur Parthasardhi Nara says India can increase the export of jamun across the globe if it starts packaging and preserving the fruit properly. </p><p>Nara says processing and technology can help farmers export medicinal and high-value fruits.</p><p>U Dharma Rao, General Manager of APEDA, who was instrumental in the first export of jamun, says they are hopeful of getting a positive response from London. “We are also looking at the USA, Europe and the Middle East as the next big market.”</p><p>He also rejected the argument that export of jamun to foreign countries will increase the prices locally, as the quantity being supplied is very minuscule compared to domestic consumption.</p>