Odisha has begun its mango export season on a strong note, with the first international consignment flagged off from Dhenkanal to London. The shipment included 3 metric tonnes of premium Amrapali mangoes, facilitated under the guidance of the Directorate of Horticulture, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha.
The export was led by farmer producer collectives, including Madanamohan Farmer Producer Cooperative Society Limited, DKL Innovative Farmer Producer Company Limited (supported by ORMAS), and Kankadahad FPCL. Palladium, the implementing partner for the PSFPO project under DA&FE, played a key role in enabling the shipment, with support from the Gates Foundation, APEDA, and other partner institutions. The initiative resulted in a significant improvement in farmer price realisation, estimated at around 72%.
Officials from the Directorate of Horticulture highlighted the coordinated effort between farmers, FPCs, and institutional partners, noting that structured support and export facilitation are helping farmer collectives access global markets more effectively. The shipment builds on last year’s milestone, when Odisha exported over 120 metric tonnes of mangoes to more than 11 countries, signalling a promising start to the current season.
Building Export Readiness at the Ground Level
The early success is rooted in a series of targeted interventions aimed at strengthening export readiness among farmer producer companies (FPCs). In the lead-up to the season, an export sensitisation workshop was organised in Dhenkanal by DA&FE and the Directorate of Horticulture, with facilitation support from Palladium.
The workshop brought together representatives from over 10 FPCs, along with officials from APEDA, CBBOs, and other stakeholders. Discussions focused on export planning, market linkages, supply coordination, and key operational aspects such as standard operating procedures and post-harvest management practices required for export and organised domestic markets.
Participants noted that such initiatives are critical in helping FPCs better understand buyer expectations and navigate the complexities of export markets with greater confidence and structure.
From Awareness to Action
Building on this momentum, an export-orientated capacity-building programme was organised shortly after by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in coordination with APEDA. The programme saw participation from 16 FPCs, along with officials from DA&FE, the Forest Department, OUAT, OLM, Mission Shakti, exporters, and other stakeholders.
The sessions focused on translating knowledge into actionable capabilities, with Palladium facilitating technical discussions to deepen understanding of export requirements and operational readiness.
APEDA officials emphasised that continuous capacity building is essential for enabling FPCs to meet market standards, engage effectively with buyers, and sustain long-term participation in export markets.
A Coordinated Push for Scale
The successful dispatch from Dhenkanal highlights the impact of a coordinated ecosystem, combining policy support, institutional facilitation, and active farmer participation. Backed by DA&FE and supported by Palladium as the Technical Support Unit for the PSFPO project, along with contributions from APEDA, KVKs, CBBOs, and other partners, the initiative is helping translate preparedness into tangible market access.
Beyond boosting exports, the approach is improving farmer incomes through better price realisation and reduced market uncertainty.
With a strong start to the season, stakeholders are now targeting mango exports of over 500 metric tonnes, reinforcing Odisha’s growing footprint in the global mango trade.
