Bagalkot: Bagalkot district in Karnataka has been producing several horticultural crops such as grapes, red chilies, turmeric, onions, bananas, and pomegranates in bulk. Currently, it exports produce, enticing customers from India and overseas. The district successfully exported 34,100 metric tonnes of produce in 2023-24, earning Rs 366 crore. The export ratio has been significantly increasing, especially red chili hitting the shelves of the US and Europe.
It has exported over 1,500 metric tonnes of bananas to many states such as Kerala, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu; onions of the district reached Malaysia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka; 3,000 metric tonnes of turmeric to Europe and Korea; 1,200 metric tonnes of grapes were being sent to Maharashtra and Telangana; and 5,000 metric tonnes of dry grapes to various states. Pomegranates occupy the number one position with 20,000 metric tonnes sent to Delhi, Punjab, and southern states.
Last year in February, a buyers-sellers meet took place to further increase the export from the district, giving farmers a chance to connect directly with the purchasers. “This strategy will be helpful for farmers to avoid fraud and get genuine prices.
Mudhol and Jamkhandi are hot spots for the growth of grape cultivation, while Kaladagi is known for pomegranate farming. Unfortunately, the cold storage facility is not adequate, which led to difficulty in storing fruits. It is expected that this facility will be soon set up in Bagalkot. The horticulture department has been providing all kinds of support, like the establishment of polyhouses, arrangement of drip irrigation, and so on. Managing Director Ravi Sajjanar said, “We are training farmers to grow pesticide-free crops, which are in high demand in both domestic and international markets.”
Bagalkot has made its name in the horticulture sector due to technical assistance and the adoption of modern technologies. Therefore, the district’s growth in horticulture exports has gone up in recent times.
