India will start exporting its famous pomegranates to the USA this month which will continue till February after which the export of pomegranate arils will start from April. The USA in turn will start the export of cherries and Alfalfa hay to India from April this year, according to information provided by the Commerce Ministry on Saturday.
India ranks first in pomegranate cultivation in the world. In India, major pomegranate producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Rajasthan. Maharashtra leads with 90,000 hectare area with an annual production of 9.45 lakh metric tons.
The trade in these agricultural products is being undertaken as part of the agreement signed at 12th India – USA TPF meeting held on 23 Nov, 2021. India and the USA signed a framework agreement for implementing the 2 Vs 2 Agri market access scheme. This includes inspection / oversight transfer for Indian mangoes and pomegranate and market access for pomegranate arils from India and market access for US cherries and U.S Alfalfa hay.
In addition, based on the ministerial discussions, India’s Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying also conveyed its readiness to provide market access for U.S pork and requested the U.S side to share a signed copy of final sanitary certificate for finalizing the same.
