Himachal’s Goodness, Oman’s Delight: First-Ever Cherry and Plum Consignment Reaches Oman.
Historic export opens global market for Himachal fruits; CM Sukhu says milestone will unlock new avenues of prosperity for farmers.
Shimla:
In a landmark achievement for Himachal Pradesh’s horticulture sector, the state has successfully exported its first-ever consignment of fresh cherries and plums to Oman, marking a significant step towards expanding the global footprint of Himachali fruits. The initiative is expected to create new international market opportunities for fruit growers while ensuring better returns for farmers.
The inaugural consignment, comprising 400 kilograms of fresh cherries and 400 kilograms of fresh plums, was flagged off by Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi. Upon its arrival in Oman, the Embassy of India in Muscat formally launched the promotional campaign for Himachal Pradesh’s fruits and appreciated their superior quality.
The fruits were prominently displayed across retail outlets in Oman through attractive in-store promotional campaigns, receiving an encouraging response from consumers. The positive market reception is being seen as an important milestone in establishing Himachal Pradesh as a reliable supplier of premium-quality fruits in international markets.
The successful export has been facilitated under the guidance of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who has accorded high priority to strengthening the state’s horticulture sector by creating better marketing opportunities for growers beyond domestic markets. The Department of Horticulture played a key role in coordinating the export process with the objective of ensuring remunerative prices for farmers through access to overseas markets.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Regional Office, Chandigarh, played a crucial role in facilitating the export by coordinating with farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, exporters, the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), state departments and logistics partners. Their collective efforts ensured compliance with international standards relating to quality, grading, packaging and phytosanitary requirements, making the consignment export-ready.
Congratulating the Department of Horticulture and the fruit growers of the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu described the successful export as a proud moment for Himachal Pradesh. He said the achievement reflected the dedication and hard work of horticulturists and officials, whose collective efforts had enabled the state’s naturally rich and premium-quality produce to gain access to international markets.
The Chief Minister said the export would unlock new avenues of prosperity for farmers and horticulturists by providing access to high-value global markets. He urged growers to maintain focus on quality production, scientific cultivation practices and proper grading to establish Himachal Pradesh as a trusted exporter of premium fruits worldwide.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to the farming community, he said every possible support would continue to be extended through technical guidance, capacity building, quality enhancement initiatives, improved post-harvest infrastructure and marketing assistance. These measures, he said, would help make the state’s horticulture sector more competitive in international markets while improving farmers’ incomes and livelihoods.
Sukhu said the present state government is committed to transforming horticulture into a more profitable and globally competitive sector. Several initiatives have already been launched to promote the production of premium-quality fruits and enable horticulturists to access high-value domestic and overseas markets.
He further stated that strengthening the rural economy remains one of the government’s foremost priorities, and expanding export opportunities for farmers’ produce is a significant step in that direction. He encouraged horticulturists to adopt high-yielding and quality planting material and embrace scientific cultivation techniques to enhance productivity and fruit quality.
Assuring continued support, the Chief Minister said the government would keep assisting farmers in marketing their produce, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure and facilitating exports to ensure better prices and higher incomes. He expressed confidence that the successful shipment to Oman would pave the way for Himachal Pradesh’s fruits to establish a stronger presence in several other international markets in the coming years.
