Odisha’s dragon fruit has once again found its place on global shelves, with Balangir district exporting 330 kg (0.33 MT) of the exotic fruit to Dubai, UAE, for the second consecutive year. The achievement reflects the state’s growing presence in the global agri-horticulture market and its commitment to boosting farmer incomes.
The fruit, cultivated in Patnagarh, fetched ₹300 per kg—marking a 20% price increase from last year’s rate of ₹250 per kg. Officials attribute the jump to rising demand, improved quality, and the adoption of modern cultivation practices by farmers.
The export was facilitated under the leadership of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, which has been working to strengthen Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) through institutional support, market access, and capacity building. By enabling farmers to aggregate produce and adopt innovative farming techniques, the state is aligning local production with global market requirements.
Key officials present at the export event included Subrat Kumar Panda (Director, Horticulture), Praful Kumar Bhanja (Joint Director, Horticulture), Rahul Ranjan (Manager, AAICLAS), along with representatives from the Directorate of Horticulture and Palladium.
Speaking at the event, Subrat Kumar Panda said, “The consecutive successful export of dragon fruit once again this year reflects the state’s growing capabilities in market-driven high-value horticulture. It signals Odisha’s readiness to tap into competitive global markets.”
Balangir farmers are now exploring other exotic crops such as kiwi, marking a broader shift towards high-value, export-oriented agriculture.
The milestone was achieved under the PSFPO (Promotion and Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations) project, implemented by Palladium and supported by the Gates Foundation. Marketing and export facilitation support was provided in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), ensuring farmers gain access to high-value international markets and better price realisation.