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In a significant milestone for Indian agriculture, the fresh litchis of Ummat Agri Allied Cooperative Society from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, were exported to Oman for the first time. The shipment marks a new chapter for the region's fruit growers, expanding the global footprint of Indian produce into the Gulf region.
The successful trade was facilitated under the oversight of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). It leverages the strategic market access created by the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on X, "From Fields to Gulf Countries, Punjab's Litchi Creates New History... Through the initiative of @APEDADOC, the fresh litchis of Ummat Agri Allied Cooperative Society, Hoshiarpur, were exported to Oman for the first time." Goyal highlighted the broader economic implications of the trade agreement for local cultivators. He added, "Leveraging the market opportunities provided under the India-Oman CEPA, this initiative is an important step toward increasing farmers' income, accelerating agricultural exports, and strengthening the global recognition of Indian agricultural products." Parallel to the Punjab export, Indian agricultural reach expanded further with a shipment from Northeast India. Earlier last month, Minister Goyal also lauded the export of Assam's GI-tagged Tezpur litchi to international markets, saying the move would help secure better returns for farmers and create new opportunities for agricultural products from Northeast India. In a post on X, Goyal said, "Assam's renowned GI-tagged Tezpur litchi is now spreading its sweetness in foreign markets. With the support of APEDA, the first export shipment of Tezpur litchi has departed for Dubai. This step will give the region's litchi global recognition, provide farmers with better prices, and create new opportunities for agricultural products from Northeast India." The export comes amid celebrations marking the centenary of Tezpur's famed litchi cultivation that began on Sunday. The two-day Tezpur Litchi Festival 2026, organised by the Sonitpur district administration, concluded recently at the District Library in Tezpur, showcasing the century-old legacy of the GI-tagged fruit. During the festival, one tonne of various litchi varieties was exported to Dubai, while around 600 kilograms were shipped to Singapore. Sonitpur District Commissioner Anand Kumar Das flagged off the consignments in the presence of Tezpur MLA Prithviraj Rabha, District Agriculture Officer Pradeep Kumar Talukdar, Sadar Agriculture Officer Zakir Hussain and other dignitaries. (ANI)
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