Lucknow, May 7 (PTI) Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said India must significantly increase exports of fruits and vegetables by improving quality, shelf life, logistics and processing infrastructure to enhance farmers' income, create jobs and earn foreign exchange.

Addressing stakeholders during the two-day "Fruit Horizon 2026" programme at the ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) in Lucknow, Chouhan said India can no longer remain focused only on production and must strengthen the entire value chain from farm to global markets.

"Farming can no longer remain limited to the fields. It is now necessary to strengthen the complete value chain from production to processing, marketing and exports," he said, according to an official statement.

The minister said India is currently producing 1,129.8 lakh metric tonnes of fruits, and nearly 71 lakh hectares of land are under fruit cultivation in the country.

"India is among the leading producers of mangoes, bananas, pomegranates, litchis and grapes. The quantity and quality of mangoes we produce are unmatched in the world, but our exports are still quite low," he said.

Chouhan said the government wants Indian fruits and vegetables to gain a stronger foothold in international markets.

"If exports of our fruits and vegetables increase, farmers' incomes will rise, foreign exchange earnings will grow, and employment opportunities will expand," he said.

The minister stressed that improving fruit quality, increasing shelf life and maintaining quality during exports in line with international standards would now be a key focus area.

He said a task force comprising ICAR scientific institutions, exporters, APEDA and other agencies would be formed to prepare a time-bound action plan aimed at resolving problems faced by producers and exporters and increasing farmers' income.

According to the statement, the government has also decided to strengthen Uttar Pradesh under the Clean Planting Material Programme. A modern clean plant centre is being established at CISH, Lucknow, for preparing and conserving disease-free and genetically pure planting material for crops such as mango, guava, litchi and avocado.

Chouhan said India must focus on "zero rejection" and premium-quality fruit production to become globally competitive.

"Modern technology, better post-harvest management, pack houses, processing facilities and practical SOPs for exports can take Indian horticulture to new heights," he said.

The minister said the role of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and self-help groups would be crucial in connecting small farmers with better markets and exports.

He also highlighted the importance of export-oriented clusters being developed by the National Horticulture Board and said initiatives linked to Jewar airport, including radiation and integrated post-harvest facilities, would strengthen export infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh.

Referring to concerns raised by litchi growers during the "Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan", Chouhan said farmers had complained that the fruit perishes within two to four days, forcing distress sales.

"We took this issue seriously and formed special ICAR teams to work on increasing the shelf life of every fruit crop," he said.

The minister said horticulture research teams have already succeeded in extending the shelf life of mangoes to 25-30 days, which would help farmers preserve produce for longer durations and secure better prices.

He also said many orchards in the country are now 50 to 100 years old and require rejuvenation and adoption of modern technologies.

"Techniques such as bagging need wider promotion as they help protect fruits from insects, flies and black spots," he said, adding that scientific teams are also working on protecting crops from adverse weather conditions.

Chouhan said reducing logistics costs would improve profitability for farmers and strengthen exporters.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has signed several important agreements and FTAs with different countries. Different nations open their markets according to their own regulations, and our efforts in this direction are continuing," he said.

The minister reiterated that India's goal was not only to meet domestic demand but also to take Indian fruits to markets across the world.

Uttar Pradesh ministers Surya Pratap Shahi and Dinesh Pratap Singh, along with scientists, exporters, nursery operators, FPO representatives and stakeholders from the fruit processing sector, were present at the event. PTI KIS HVA