The recent pomegranate traceability system in the Indian state of Maharashtra, AnarNet, is expecting a big rise in the number of registered producers and exports in the season starting this September.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) built system is a descendent of the successful GrapeNett tracing setup, which has yielded good results for exports to Europe, reported the Economic Times.
“We have started registration of orchards under AnarNet in February 2009 and so far have registered 800 orchards of 8 acres each till now. The registration for this year will be done till July end,” said GG Hande, a phytosanitary inspecting authority for the Maharashtra Department of Horticulture.
“We have exported seven containers of 14 tonnes each. But from the season starting in September this year, quantities will go up substantially as the number of registered orchards has also increased.”
Maharashtra has about 85,000ha of pomegranate orchards, making up 70 per cent of India’s production.
Last year the state exported 12,800 tonnes, mainly to Europe and the Middle East.
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