Arunachal hosts international buyer-seller meet on horticulture produce

Buyers from seven countries, including Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, UAE, Sultanate of Oman and Greece, participated in the meet and interacted with exporters.

Growers and exporters showcased the produce of Arunachal Pradesh like Mandarin oranges, kiwi, pineapple, king chilly, large cardamom, organic products, other fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices.

APEDA, which is under the Department of Commerce, promotes export of agricultural products and to facilitate market linkages for agri- exports from the North Eastern Region (NER), especially Arunachal Pradesh.

APEDA jointly with the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture of the government of Arunachal Pradesh organised the Conference-cum-International Buyer-Seller Meet at Itanagar. 

The conference was intended to provide a platform for B2B and B2G meetings of international buyers with the importers and exporters and the progressive farmers and growers from the North East Region (NER), particularly from Arunachal Pradesh, to explore the opportunities and prospects of agriculture and horticulture exports.

Minister of agriculture and horticulture of Arunachal Pradesh, Tage Taki, while welcoming the dignitaries, said the buyer seller meet will provide linkages among the international and national buyers and farmers. He further pointed out that 75- 80 percent land of the state is unexplored and a lot of horticulture crops may be taken up in those areas as Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with five types of agro-climatic zones.

Chairman, APEDA, Paban Kumar Borthakur, informed that crops needed to be chosen according to demand by other countries and for this avenues need to be created for exporters.

A colourful cultural evening was organised to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the North East states, especially Arunachal Pradesh. A field visit for the international buyers has been arranged on the day at a kiwi winery and kiwi orchard at Ziro.

APEDA has organised International Buyer Seller Meet in the NER to introduce the products of the North East states to the international market. BSM has been organised in Guwahati, Assam in March this year, followed by a Conference-cum-International Buyer-Seller Meet at Imphal, Manipur in June 2019, followed by another in September 2019 at Agartala, Tripura.

APEDA is holding promotional activities in the areas of agricultural exports, like providing support to exporters to set up infrastructure facilities like pack houses and cold storages. APEDA also helps exporters to exhibit their products in several national and international exhibitions. The event at Itanagar was part of the initiative of APEDA to bring the North East states of India on the export map.