Shillong, Dec 17: The first consignment of the 2 metric tons (MT) of GI tagged ‘Khasi Mandarin’ oranges of Meghalaya was flagged off for export to Doha and Bahrain on Friday.
Meghalaya exports 2 tons of GI tagged Khasi Mandarin in collaboration with @APEDADOC under MoVCDNER scheme to Doha & Bahrain, after the successful trial shipment last week to Dubai.
More power to our farmers!#MOVCDNER @narendramodi @nstomar @AgriGol pic.twitter.com/0j7Dt9xxYx
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) December 16, 2022
The Khasi Mandarin is produced by a group of orange farmers in Meghalaya’s South West Khasi Hills district.
It may be mentioned that the farmers of Jirang in Ri-Bhoi district had exported their oranges to Dubai earlier this month.
The consignment was flagged-off by the Director of Horticulture in the presence of all the officers at the Directorate and other officers from the Department across the Districts attended the programme virtually.
The mandarin oranges are known for its nicheness, growing in hilly terrains of Meghalaya and with unique content of nutrients. It will reach the aisles of UAE supermarkets in few days and take over the world with its sweet tanginess.
The Chief Guest also felicitated the farmers and members of the Ardong Phlangwar Organic Producer Co-operative Society Ltd with a cheque showing the amount paid to the farmers for the 2 MT consignments taken from them. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest said the endeavour by the Directorate of Horticulture promises the local farmers a better value for their produce as well as an exposure to the global markets.
The mandarin oranges consignment was purchased and exported by a Dubai based Retail Chain, Lulu Group International having its Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It is a world-renowned purveyor of an international business portfolio that ranges from hypermarket operations to shopping mall development, manufacturing and trading of goods, hospitality assets, and real estate. The Lulu Group operates in 23 countries located across the Middle East, Asia, US, and Europe.
Mentionably, the flag-off ceremony was also attended by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (INM Division) and APEDA virtually. Dr. A.K Yadav, Chief Adviser (MOVCDNER) and Vinita Sudhanshu, Deputy General Manager of APEDA, also flagged off the consignment virtually from Delhi office in the presence of other officials along with officials from their Guwahati branch.
