From Uttarakhand To Denmark, India Starts Export Of Organically Grown Millets Of Himalayas

In a major boost to export of organic products from India, first consignment of millets grown in Himalayas from snow-melt water of River Ganga in Uttarakhand would be exported to Denmark.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with Uttarakhand Agriculture Produce Marketing Board (UKAPMB) and Just Organik, an exporter, has sourced and processed ragi (finger millet), and jhingora (barnyard millet) which meets the organic certification standards of the European Union (EU) for exports.

UKAPMB procured millets directly from these farmers which have been processed in the state-of-art processing unit built by mandi board and operated by Just Organik.

“Millets are unique agricultural products from India which have significant demand in the global market. We will continue to carry out export promotion for the millets with a special focus on products sourced from the Himalayas,” said Dr M Angamuthu, Chairman, APEDA.

He stated that Indian organic products, nutraceuticals and health food are gaining more demand in overseas market

Meanwhile, India’s export of organic food products rose by more than 51 per cent to Rs 7,078 crore ($1,040 million) during April-February (2020-21) compared to the same period in the previous fiscal (2019-20). The growth in organic products have been achieved despite logistical and operational challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Oil cake meal is a major commodity of the organic product exports from the country followed by oil seeds, fruit pulps and purees, cereals and millets, spices, tea, medicinal plant products, dry fruits, sugar, pulses, coffee, essential oil etc, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

India’s organic products have been exported to 58 countries including USA, European Union, Canada, UK, Australia, Switzerland, Israel and South Korea.