Fruits and vegetable exports from Kerala to its markets in the Gulf have been affected in a big way due to the cancellation of international flights in view of the second wave of Covid -19 in India.
Kerala exporters have been depending on the traditional markets of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain for almost half a century. The transport at least 150 tons of fruits and vegetables every day from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode airports.
Now, Dil Koshy, Secretary, Agriculture Products and Processed Foods Exporters Association (APPEXA) states that incoming passenger flights are charging rates three times the normal rate to carry out cargo. Also, cargo flights are seldom available due to lack of incoming cargo. In the absence of inward cargo, airlines find their operational costs on the higher side and importers in the overseas markets find difficulties in distributing these commodities to the supply chain at a higher price.
“We are also catering to the US and European destinations using the transit flights from the Gulf destinations by moving 10 tons per day. However, the disruptions in flight schedules world-over have affected such movements,” Koshy told thehindubusinessline.com.