Valley veggies make it to international market, 63-FPOs in pipeline to boost export

Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Jan 4: To encourage vegetable exports and transform Kashmir into a vegetable basket, the Government plans to establish 63 Farmer-Producer Associations (FPO) across the Valley.
According to the Agriculture Department, at least three consignments of greens grown in the Valley have already been shipped to Sharjah (UAE), with a fourth on the way. “The goal is to expose Valley-based farmers to the international market and develop new avenues for the Valley’s rising greens”, Director of Agriculture Chowdhary Mohammad Younis said, adding that the Valley’s veggies are more valuable than others.
He said that the department has identified roughly 63 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) throughout the Valley and is waiting for approval from concerned agencies. Last month, the Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar approved one such FPO, which is being supported by the central government through NABARD.
Kashmir has a large export potential for greens, which might be further boosted through FPO promotion. “The Lulu Group exported veggies from Kashmir to Sharjah (UAE) for the first time. Three shipments have been sent, with a fourth on its way. Over 90% of shipped vegetables come from the Srinagar district,” Younis said.
The FPOs will assist the targeted farmers by boosting market linkages for crops such as squash, capsicum, brinjal, and other vegetables that are grown in large quantities in the Valley. The FPO will be established with an initial membership of 192 farmers and membership would extend with time.
The FPO is an institutional framework for improving farmer revenue by lowering manufacturing prices, increasing per-unit production, and permitting better market access. “From manufacture to post-harvest and marketing of their branded products, the firms would provide a comprehensive solution to all the challenges of farmers,” an official said.
He said that each FPO could be qualified for equity grant help of up to Rs 15 lakh per FPO, as well as collateral-free credit score ensured help of up to Rs 2 crore from banks and various financial establishments.