Shillong: The Meghalaya Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has achieved a significant milestone by exporting the first consignment of GI-tagged Khasi mandarin to Lulu Mall in Dubai.
This initiative was facilitated by the Jirang Farmer Producer Company in the Ri-Bhoi district. The department exported the consignment of Khasi Mandarin oranges to Dubai on November 18.
This consignment of 1 MT was transported via Air India cargo from Guwahati to Dubai, marking the first-ever direct export shipment from the region using this route.
This initiative is a significant step in integrating Meghalaya‘s farmers with global markets, thereby addressing long-standing logistical and economic challenges.
Meghalaya is connecting its farmers to global markets through collaborations with key partners such as Lulu Group International, Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Private Limited, and the National Cooperative for Organic Limited.
“Meghalaya’s geography and remote location pose significant challenges to its agricultural sector. Farmers often lack access to lucrative urban markets and are reliant on middlemen and aggregators, which limits their earning potential. Transportation costs also hinder the competitiveness of the niche produce, such as Khasi mandarin and pineapple, in both domestic and international markets,” an official said.
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Exports commenced in 2022 with a shipment of five metric tonnes of Khasi Mandarin oranges and pineapples to the Middle East.
