The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Odisha is promoting the cultivation of vegetables in cluster mode across Odisha. Palladium as the Technical Support Unit under the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment together with APEDA, ORMAS and NABARD, has opened doors for Odisha’s farmers to global markets by enabling the export of fresh vegetable produce.
Once known to be part of the remote KBK region, today three Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from the Titlagarh and Loisingha blocks of Balangir district namely Jaden Farmer Producer Company, Krushak Unnayan Sangathan Farmer Producer Company, and Undher Farmer Producer Company have exported 800 kilograms of high-quality fresh vegetables including Pointed Gourd, Okra, Bitter Gourd, and Ivy Gourd to Dubai.
“Today is a proud day for Balangir district, as fresh vegetables from this district is being exported to Dubai. This has been possible because of the handholding support and constant encouragement of the PSFPO team from Palladium. I would like to thank the local farmers, FPOs, local NGOs, NABARD, ORMAS and district horticultural officers because of whose support and cooperation this was possible. I hope that this initiative continues”, said Prafulla Kumar Bhanja, Deputy Director Horticulture, Balangir