Dehradun, Aug 21 (PTI) India has shipped Garhwali apples from Dehradun to Dubai for the first time in a bid to increase agricultural exports from the country.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal flagged off the first trial shipment of 1.2 tonnes of Garhwali apples from Dehradun to Dubai, the commerce ministry said.

The trial shipment was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Lessons from this trial shipment will help refine cold chain management, post-harvest handling, and logistics frameworks, it added.

Despite the uniqueness of these apples, growers often face challenges in accessing remunerative international markets due to limitations in infrastructure, connectivity, and post-harvest handling.

Recognising this gap, it said, APEDA has been working with the state government, exporters, and farmer groups to build sustainable export pathways.

The authority has focused on sensitising growers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), adherence to international quality standards, and post-harvest management techniques, it said.

APEDA is also working to establish a dedicated Regional Office in Dehradun to provide closer handholding support to farmers and exporters.

Additionally, APEDA is facilitating organic certification and GI tagging for Uttarakhand-specific produce to enhance their recognition, traceability, and competitiveness in global markets.

Barthwal emphasised that the government is making concerted efforts in enhancing farmers' incomes through enhanced adoption of Organic farming and Organic exports, value addition in Agri products and promotion of Agricultural and Processed Food products exports to developed and high-value markets. PTI RR BAL BAL

Agricultural export facilitation: trial shipment aims to open high-value markets and improve cold-chain and certification support. APEDA-facilitated trial shipment of Garhwali apples to Dubai aims to address growers' market-access constraints by refining cold chain management, post-harvest handling, and logistics. The authority is promoting Good Agricultural Practices and international quality standards, facilitating organic certification and Geographical Indication tagging, and planning a Regional Office in Dehradun to provide closer support, all to strengthen export pathways and enhance farmers' incomes through organic production, value addition, and access to high-value markets.