Prayagraj: Apart from Indian domestic markets, vegetables produced by farmers in Prayagraj division have carved out a distinct identity in international markets too. The export of agricultural and horticultural products from the Prayagraj division has generated business worth approximately Rs 112 crore in past three years. The financial assistance and facilities provided to farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and entrepreneurs under the Yogi government’s agricultural export policy has played a pivotal role in this achievement.Assistant Agricultural Marketing Officer ( Prayagraj division), Dr Dinesh Chandra said that okra has emerged as the division’s top export product after chili peppers. Okra from Prayagraj is particularly popular in Gulf countries. In July alone, 20.83 metric tonnes of okra were shipped from Prayagraj to the UAE. Prior to this, 80 metric tonnes had been exported during the last financial year. Under the state government’s agricultural export policy, farmers, FPOs, and agri-entrepreneurs are receiving attractive subsidies.The Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Export Policy-2019 offers subsidies of up to 50 percent. Incentives of up to Rs 6 lakh are available for developing agricultural export clusters spanning 50 to 100 hectares. Similarly, the government provides financial assistance covering 40 percent of costs (up to a maximum of Rs 15 lakh) for packaging, branding, and quality improvement, and up to Rs 25 lakh for the development of export infrastructure.Faced with rising production costs for traditional crops, farmers are increasingly opting for alternatives that require less time and lower investment. Vegetable cultivation is emerging as a preferred choice among them. Umesh Patel, a farmer from the Hanuman area across the Ganga in Prayagraj, notes a rapidly growing trend among farmers towards cultivating cucumbers and okra. While cucumbers are the top choice for large-scale farmers using polyhouses, okra is proving to be the most popular crop among marginal and small farmers. Farmers in the region are cultivating okra across 110 hectares.As many as 84 farmers associated with the Phulpur Farmers Producer Company have shown a keen interest in this crop. The ‘Daroga’ variety of okra is the preferred choice for local farmers. This variety is ready for its first harvest just 45 to 48 days after sowing and boasts superior disease resistance. Additionally, due to the high quality of the produce and its long shelf life, it is in high demand for export.The state government is also setting clusters to boost agricultural exports. Preserving agricultural produce is essential for such exports. Chandra said that the district’s first cold storage facility dedicated to okra has been set up in Ramaipur village, Hanumanganj. Constructed by Ecofrost at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, the facility maintains a temperature between two and three degrees Celsius, allowing the okra to remain fresh for up to a week. The construction of this facility is expected to accelerate okra exports.
