The government of Karnataka has listed the (Rural) districts of Chikkaballapur, Bangalore and Kolar as rose onion variety clusters to promote their exports through multiple initiatives under the Centre's Agriculture Export Policy (AEP).
Four Chikkaballapur farmer producer organisations recently signed an MoU with BS Allium Cepa Exports to support rose onion exports, an official release said. According to the Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Company Ltd, about 2,500 farmers are expected to benefit from the initiative.
Niraj Kumar Verma, CGM, NABARD, said that this collaborative venture involving FPOs between his company and KAPPEC tackles the supply chain constraints that typically concern rose onion crops and facilitates their exports.
B Shivaraju, Managing Director, KAPPEC, said that the Agency is working to implement the AEP with the ultimate goal of export facilitation, in line with the action plan and strategy paper prepared by the State Government.
Verma said attempts are being made to increase more crops such as pomegranate, beneficial coffee and black pepper for export potential.