Dragon fruits cultivated in the farm fields of Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo at Patnagarh, Balangir district, Odisha, have made their way to the Dubai market. This export marks the first instance of dragon fruits from the state being shipped overseas, with VeloExim handling the logistics of moving four quintals of this fruit. The endeavor was supported by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Directorate of Horticulture, alongside Palladium India, which served as the technical assistance unit for the farmer producer organisations (FPOs).
The dragon fruits, distinguished by their red flesh and larger size, were grown following organic farming methods. Despite their quality, the local demand was insufficient, resulting in prices ranging from Rs 120 to Rs 160 per kg. Singh Deo, who also oversees the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Ministry, embarked on dragon fruit cultivation over an area of seven acres during the Covid pandemic in 2021, after thorough market and organic cultivation research. Approximately three years later, the first batch has been successfully exported to Dubai
Amlan Patnaik, founder of VeloExim, highlighted the high-value nature of dragon fruit and the particular demand for the variety produced in India within the Dubai market. Emphasizing the importance of quality for exports, Patnaik noted the role of FPOs and manufacturing units in producing high-quality commodities. Biswajit Behera, Associate Director of Palladium, added that following mangoes, cashew nuts, and vegetables like pointed gourd, bitter gourd, and lady's finger, dragon fruit is the latest Odisha product to enter the global market. The export initiative has reportedly increased the fruit's price to Rs 250 to Rs 260 per kg in the international market.
Source: The New Indian Express