Jharkhand ships first commercial mango consignment to UK, empowering women farmers
The involvement of an all-women farmer producer company is particularly significant, as women farmers often face disproportionate barriers to market access.
INDIA – The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has flagged off the first commercial consignment of fresh mangoes from Jharkhand to the United Kingdom, comprising 1.5 metric tonnes of Amrapali mangoes sourced from an all-women farmer producer company in Simdega district.
Firstly, APEDA prepared Jharkhand’s farmers for international markets through an export-oriented capacity-building programme covering export requirements, quality standards, and market opportunities.
Following the training, APEDA facilitated a linkage between Beura Farmer Producer Company Ltd and M/S JGB Agrofresh Pvt Ltd to procure export-quality mangoes from the district.
This linkage enabled the farmer producer company’s direct participation in the export value chain, providing market access for its member farmers, who realized higher returns than the prevailing domestic market prices.
As a result, the initiative is expected to encourage the adoption of quality production practices, improved post-harvest management, and compliance with international standards among farmer groups in the region.
The Amrapali mango variety grown in Jharkhand is known for its quality and market acceptance. The state has favourable Agro-climatic conditions for horticultural cultivation, and with this consignment, Jharkhand joins the list of Indian states exporting fresh fruit to international markets.
On the other hand, the involvement of an all-women farmer producer company is particularly significant, as women farmers often face disproportionate barriers to market access. This shipment demonstrates that, with appropriate institutional support, women-led collectives can meet stringent international quality standards and capture export premiums.
For international buyers, shipment from Jharkhand signals a new source of supply for Amrapali mangoes. Building relationships with APEDA and Indian farmer-producer companies could provide access to traceable, quality-controlled fruit and support women-led agricultural enterprises. The challenge now is scale and consistency, which require investment in cold chain infrastructure, packing houses, and quality-testing facilities.
Nonetheless, the flag-off ceremony in Kolkata marks a genuine milestone. Jharkhand is now an export-origin state; its women farmers are participating in exports, and the Amrapali mango is a global ambassador for the state’s horticultural potential. That is a model worth replicating across MEA, and the proof is now in transit.
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