APEDA, Fruit Master hold  training program to boost fresh Kashmir fruit exports

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, May 27: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., organised a Farmers Capacity Development Programme in Kashmir aimed at strengthening the export potential of fresh fruits from Jammu & Kashmir.

The programme witnessed participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across Jammu & Kashmir along with progressive individual farmers. The initiative focused on creating awareness about export opportunities, international quality standards, modern farming practices and the challenges faced by growers in accessing global markets.

During the interactive sessions, farmers discussed issues related to export readiness, quality management, infrastructure gaps and market access with experts from APEDA and other participating organisations.

Addressing the participants, APEDA Regional Head for J&K, Sehreena, highlighted the authority’s role in promoting agricultural exports from the region. She informed farmers about various support mechanisms and export promotion initiatives being implemented by APEDA and encouraged growers to focus on producing high-quality fruits suited for international markets.

She assured the farming community of APEDA’s continued support in strengthening fresh fruit exports from Jammu & Kashmir.

Speaking on the occasion, Izhan Javeed, CEO of Fruit Master Agro Fresh Pvt. Ltd., said that horticultural produce from Jammu & Kashmir has the potential to compete globally provided growers maintain consistent quality, productivity and reliability in supply. He stressed the need for reducing production costs and adopting modern farming techniques to make farmers export-ready and improve their incomes sustainably.

Technical sessions were conducted by experts from Orchardly, who focused on sustainability, export-oriented cultivation practices and improving quality standards in fresh produce. The experts emphasised the importance of producing MRL-compliant fruits for international markets and guided farmers on addressing quality-related challenges to meet global standards.

Officials from the District Industries Centre (DIC), Agriculture Department, and the Department of Horticulture & Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Jammu & Kashmir, also attended the programme and interacted with farmers regarding government initiatives aimed at strengthening the region’s horticulture ecosystem.

The organisers said the programme marked another step towards enhancing Jammu & Kashmir’s position as a major exporter of premium fresh fruits while equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools required to access international markets successfully.