Odisha farmers export fresh produce to Dubai

Farmers from Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts have successfully exported 1,000 kg of fresh produce to Dubai via Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar. The consignment included garlic & French beans—exported for the first time from Odisha along with baby potatoes, ivy gourd, pointed gourd, and papaya, sourced from FPO farmers.

The Directorate of Horticulture played a pivotal role in facilitating this export, to ensure coordination and support for farmer participation. This achievement was enabled through the Promotion and Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) project, implemented by Palladium under Department of Agriculture and Farmer’s Empowerment with support from APEDA and backing from the Gates Foundation. Through this structured effort, agri-business startup Villa Mart Pvt. Ltd. was empowered to connect farmer-led institutions with international markets, creating a new pathway for global Agri-exports from Odisha.

An essential success factor was the comprehensive incubation support provided to Villa Mart by Palladium under PSFPO, including assistance in sourcing produce from farmers and navigating licensing, certification, and regulatory compliance requirements for international trade. Palladium facilitated the entire process from documentation to certification ensuring smooth execution and demonstrating how structured support can empower agri-business startups to connect FPOs with global markets.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening farmer livelihoods through innovative market strategies. By enabling global exports and fostering structured engagement with private entities, we are creating sustainable income opportunities for farmers while positioning Odisha as a competitive player in international agri-markets," said Soumya Ranjan Sahoo, Agri Business Expert, Palladium Consulting India.

"Until now, VillaMart focused on local market linkages, but this pilot export to Dubai marks a significant shift toward global markets. Unlike our earlier operations, this required meeting international compliance standards, and Palladium provided incubation and documentation support to make it possible. We also appreciate the support and guidance from WTC and APEDA in export facilitation. This collaboration opens new opportunities for Odisha’s farmers to access global markets," said Dr. Ramesh Chandra Biswal, Founder & CEO, VillaMart.

This initiative comes at a time when DA&FE is drafting a new Agri Export Policy aimed at strengthening global market integration, promoting structured engagement with agri-business startups, and enhancing income realization for farmers—aligned with the vision of Viksit Odisha. Representatives from DA&FE- Shri Kunja Bihari Mishra, Addl. Horticulture Director, Shri Ramesh Chandra Biswal, Founder & CEO, VillaMart, and Shri Soumya Ranjan Sahoo, Agri Business Expert from Palladium India were present during the consignment dispatch, underscoring the collaborative effort behind this achievement.