A first, rose-scented litchis from Punjab reach Qatar, UAE markets

India’s horticulture export market has got a fillip, thanks to Pathankot where a new crop of rose-scented litchis is scripting history. The first-ever consignment of the unique stock of litchis was flagged off from Sujanpur for Qatar’s Doha this week, with plans to boost exports manifold.

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One metric tonne of rose-scented litchis reached Doha under a new collaboration between the Commerce Ministry and the Punjab Government to expand national horticulture exports with Pathankot’s weather and water being major favourable factors.

Another 600 kg litchi from Pathankot has also been sent to Dubai, UAE, marking what is a double export achievement signalling growing potential for India’s horticulture exports worldwide.

At the centre of this transformation is Sujanpur-based Prabhat Singh, a progressive farmer from Pathankot, who supplied the high quality produce.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the apex body handling horticulture commerce, on Friday said they bought litchi from Singh for nearly Rs 175 a kg and the export value in Doha and Dubai was over Rs 375 a kg.

“Last year, we bought rose-scented litchis from Prabhat Singh for Rs 90 kg. In just a year, the cost has reached Rs 175 a kg with the crop emerging the best in taste and flavour across the country,” APEDA regional head for Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh Harpreet Singh told The Tribune.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has also commented on Punjab crossing a horticulture milestone. “India’s commerce is growing with Punjab’s litchi from Pathankot reaching Qatar markets for the first time,” he said.