India can now commence exports of banana and baby corn to Canada, as the country’s market access had been approved. The Government of India in a statement has mentioned that the move is expected to benefit Indian farmers growing these crops and enhance the country’s export earnings.
According to the statement by the government, Canada has given approval for export of fresh bananas with immediate effect, while outbound shipment of baby corn will begin from this month after technical update.
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The decision was taken after negotiations between Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja and Canadian High Commissioner H E Cameron MacKay.
“Canada informed that export of fresh baby corn from India to Canada may begin from April 2022 after update of directive D-95-28: plant protection import and domestic movement requirements for corn and the automated import reference system,” the statement said.
Based on the technical information provided for fresh bananas by India, Canada has approved entry of bananas into Canada with immediate effect, it added.
India exported bananas worth more than INR 616 crore in 2020-21. It majorly exports bananas to Iran, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The banana exports from India have grown from 35,000 tonne in 2016-17 to 1.91 lakh tonne in 2020-21. Of these, Maharashtra’s share is around 70 percent.
India is the world’s leading producer of bananas with a share of around 25 percent in total output. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh contribute more than 70 percent of the country’s banana production.
Also Read: Wheat Export from India to Touch 30-35 lakh Tonnes in April-July.
According to the second advance estimates of horticultural crops (2021-22), banana production in the current crop year grew by around 2 percent to 32.45 million tonnes (MT) compared to 2020-21 and the total acreage of banana production in the country is 0.23 million hectare.