Export of fresh fruits and vegetables from the country increased by over 9 per cent in the first 10 months of the 2008-09 financial year (April-January 2008-09), compared with the exports for the whole of fiscal 2007-08.
India exported 2,026,145 tonnes of fruits and vegetables worth a total Rs2,661.81 crore in the first 10 months of fiscal 2008-09 (April '08 to January '09) against export of 1,724,573 tonnes worth Rs2,437.33 crore for the whole of the previous fiscal (2007-08).
Of this, Bangladesh accounted for 689,193 tonnes valued at Rs709.77 crore in April-January 2008-09 against 502,093 tonnes valued at Rs560.53 crore exported in the whole of 2007-08, figures released by the ditectorate general of foreign trade showed.
Exports to UAE stood at 390,321 tonnes valued at Rs475.91 crore in April-January 2008-09 against 283,025 tonnes worth Rs430.67 crore exported in the whole of fiscal 2007-08.
Kuwait imported 32,031 tonnes of fruits and vegetables from India worth a total Rs51.36 crore in April-January 2008-09 against 20,778 tonnes worth Rs36.15 exported in the previous fiscal.
Saudi Arabia accounted for exports of 46,854 tonnes of fruits and vegetables worth Rs96.20 crore during April-January 2008-09 against 45,426 tonnes valued at Rs80.72 crore exported in fiscal 2007-08.
Malaysia imported 240,997 tones of fruits and vegetables worth Rs267.41 core from India in April-January 2008-09 against import of 203,734 tones worth Rs210.55 core in 2007-08.
Sri Lanka accounted for export of 147,756 tonnes of fruits and vegetables worth Rs156.45 core from India in April-January 2008-09 against export of 141,940 tonnes worth Rs117.13 core.
The share of fruits was lower at 22,806 tonnes valued at Rs240.03 crore in April-January 2008-09 against 64,634 tonnes valued at Rs401.94 crore for the whole of fiscal 2007-08.
The share of vegetables, however, increased to 22,806 tonnes valued at Rs64.94 crore in April-January 2008-09 from 27,177 tonnes valued at Rs7.43 crore in the whole of 2007-08.
This information was given by minister of agriculture, consumer affairs, food & public distribution KV Thomas in written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Source : Domain-b