Odisha’s Green Papaya, Colocasia, make way to Ireland

From an importer to a vegetable exporter, the scenario in Odisha’s agriculture sector is showing signs of transformation with 100 kg Colocasia and 320 kg Green Papaya from Dhenkanal district exported to far-off Ireland from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, the state’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department said on Wednesday.

This success has been possible under the strong leadership of the Directorate of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, with the support of the Gates Foundation and the joint coordination by Palladium, a statement issued in this regard said.

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Dhenkanal’s ‘Saptasajya Agro Producer Company’, which has become a symbol of the collective strength of small and marginal farmers, is responsible for the export of the agro produce.

Saptasajya Agro Producers Company is striving to build a prosperous agricultural economy, providing fair prices to the farmers for their labour and increasing the demand for Odisha’s agricultural products in the global market.

This time, by exporting high-quality Colocasia to Ireland for the first time along with papaya, this farmer-producer organisation (FPO) has added another milestone to its journey of success. This is not just an export but an effort to give a global platform to the dreams of Odisha farmers, the statement added.

With continuous efforts in this direction, more than 140 metric tonnes of fresh vegetables and fruits have been exported to 10 international markets from 2024 by Palladium under the stewardship of the Agriculture Department. Through this export, the farmers have been able to get 40 per cent to 62 per cent added value of their produce.

This initiative will not only provide fair prices to the farmers but will also enable them to become self-reliant and meet the demands of the global market. This export success has become a source of inspiration for other FPOs and farmers across the state.