(MENAFN- NewsIn.Asia)
New Delhi, Jan 23 (LiveMint): India has emerged as the largest exporter of gherkins or pickling cucumber, a member of the gourd family, with outbound shipments crossing $200 million in FY21, said an official statement.
In FY21, India had shipped over 2,23,000 tonnes of cucumber and gherkins—also known as cornichons–worth $223 million, the statement from the commerce and industry ministry said.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates from around the world
Following directions from the department of commerce, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) took steps to develop infrastructure, promote the product in world markets and to ensure food safety compliance in processing units, the statement said.
Gherkins are exported under two categories – either as prepared and preserved by vinegar or acetic acid or as provisionally preserved.
READ: Coal-fired power plants are causing havoc in Pakistan
Gherkin cultivation, processing and exports started in India during the early 1990s with a modest beginning in Karnataka and later extended to the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Nearly 15% production of the world's gherkin requirement is grown in India now.
It is currently exported to more than 20 countries, with major destinations being the US, France, Germany, Australia, Spain, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Russia, China, Sri Lanka and Israel.
READ: Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas welcome baby via surrogate
Cultivation of gherkins is carried out under contract farming by around 90,000 small and marginal farmers with an annual production area of 65,000 acres, the statement said. Processed gherkins are exported in bulk as industrial raw material and in jars as ready to eat. Its bulk production is still occupying a high share of the gherkin market. In India there are about 51 major companies producing and exporting gherkins in drums and ready-to-eat consumer packs.
On an average, a gherkin farmer produces four tonne per acre per crop and earns about ₹80,000 with a net income of ₹40,000. Gherkin has a 90-day crop and farmers take two crops annually.
For similar articles, join our Telegram channel for the latest updates. – click here
MENAFN23012022000191011043ID1103580386
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.