New Delhi: India has sought early market access for grape exports to New Zealand and approval for its steam heat treatment (VHT) facilities, used to kill pests, in Delhi and Lucknow.
During a bilateral meeting on Monday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged his New Zealand counterpart Todd McClay to approve the VHT facility as part of India’s broader strategy to enhance fruit trade between the two nations, according to an official statement from the Agriculture Ministry.
Mint On June 26, it was reported that India plans to start talks on a new free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand.
Since VHT is critical to meeting New Zealand’s strict biosecurity standards, India’s push for early approval and market entry is aimed at strengthening its trade ties with New Zealand and expanding its fruit export basket.
Steam heat treatment (VHT) is a process used to eliminate pests and pathogens on fruit, ensuring safety and compliance with biosecurity standards. It is important for exporting fruit to countries with strict regulations.
According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, India is a major exporter of fresh grapes, with exports valued at $417 million in fiscal year 2024. The country ships grapes to several destinations, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Bangladesh.
While both ministers were discussing expansion of trade in fresh and dried fruits, Chouhan specifically mentioned the possibility of granting early market access to Indian exporters to export grapes to New Zealand, the ministry said.
New Delhi has shifted its focus to exporting agricultural products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, to new destinations such as the United States, the European Union and African countries as a self-imposed ban on rice and wheat exports has been in place for more than a year.
The Economic Survey 2024 suggested placing greater emphasis on growing high-value crops to increase farmers’ incomes.
The agricultural sector, which has grown at an average rate of 4.18% over the past five years, remains critical to economic growth.
The Economic Survey indicated that small farmers cannot significantly increase their income if they only produce rice, wheat, millet, pulses and oilseeds. They should engage in high-value agriculture such as fruit and vegetable production, fisheries, poultry and dairy farming.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, India’s annual grape production is about 3.5 million tonnes. The major grape producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
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