Green papaya cultivated by tribal women farmers in remote locations of Odisha will now find themselves on the dining tables of London citizens.
Grown by a group of 14 women farmer members of the Saptasajya Agro Producer Company of Dhenakal in Odisha, it is the first-even shipment by an FPO in Odisha to London. The FPO exported one tonne of locally-grown premium quality green papaya.
Amit Patjoshi, CEO of Palladium Consulting India Pvt Ltd, which was involved in the shipments, said green papaya has good demand in countries such as the UK and Ireland.
Besides a sense of pride, farmers saw a 40-62 per cent increase in price realisation. Green papaya from Odisha has a significant competitive advantage in export markets owing to its nutritional value, distinct flavour, availability and low cost of production, he said.
The export was done to coincide with the International Women’s Day, including those from PVTG (particularly vulnerable tribal groups), in Odisha.
The shipment was flagged off at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment of Odisha, Apeda (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), and Palladium Consulting India Pvt Ltd, successfully facilitated this first-ever shipment of green papaya to London.
FOOD REGULATIONS
The FPO, which was 144 women farmers, produces green papayas on over 20 acres in the region, which is known for its high-quality production. Green papaya exporters were aware of the strict food regulations in European countries. Their efforts to export were facilitated by Promotion and Stabilisation of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) team, through empanelled exporters.
“Naturally grown green papaya from the State is free of chemical residue and conforms to EU standards of variety, size and chemical residue levels. The quality checks happen at multiple levels — starting from the field verifications to phyto-sanitary certifications to testing in labs located at Apeda empanelled pack-houses before the custom clearance,” he said.
