Odisha makes history: Exports mangoes to England & Dubai in single day with Palladium’s support

In a landmark milestone for Odisha’s agri-export journey, three international consignments of mangoes were successfully exported to two cities in England- London & Birmingham, and Dubai in UAE —all in a single day. This first-of-its-kind event underscores the growing strength of the state’s Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and the critical market facilitation role played by Palladium.

Balangir: First-Ever Mango Export from the District to London

From Balangir, a district of strategic importance as the home district of the Deputy Chief minister (DCM), 2 MT of mangoes were exported to London—marking the first mango export from the district. This historic export demonstrates the immense potential of Balangir’s mango growers to participate in international trade.

This export is supported by a focused training held earlier this month by Palladium in Patnagarh, where farmers and FPOs were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare for international market access and strengthen the mango value chain.The success of this initiative was made possible through end-to-end market support facilitated by Palladium, including buyer linkage, quality assurance, and export preparedness.

Union Minister Flags Off Sambalpur Export to England and Dubai

As part of the Mango Festival celebrations in Sambalpur, 3.5 MT of premium mangoes were flagged off for export to England and Dubai by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. The ceremony was attended by officials from NABARD, the Department of Horticulture, Sambalpur District Administration, and the Palladium India team.

The export was enabled through structured engagement and market linkage support provided by Palladium, ensuring international quality compliance and buyer access.

“This is not just the export of mangoes; it is the export of our farmers’ hard work, dedication, and dreams,” said Shri Pradhan.
“Odisha is fast emerging as a trusted supplier of high-quality agricultural products. By connecting our farmers—especially women—to global markets, we are creating pathways to better livelihoods and sustainable rural prosperity.”

Building Odisha’s Global Agri Footprint

These coordinated exports reflect the impact of the Horticulture Department’s initiatives to promote crop diversification, high-value produce, and export-readiness. Through capacity building, branding, SOP training, and packaging, Odisha’s farmers are being equipped to meet global market standards—with Palladium playing a pivotal role in driving market access and international buyer engagement.

Following the flag-off ceremony, NABARD, in collaboration with Palladium India, organized an Export Sensitization Workshop for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) on 24th May 2025 at the Horticulture Training Institute, Nildunguri, Sambalpur. The workshop aimed to build the export readiness of FPOs engaged in the mango value chain by equipping them with essential skills, knowledge, and market linkages.  

The workshop began with the registration and onboarding of participants, managed by the Palladium team. A welcome address was delivered by District Development Manager (DDM), NABARD Sambalpur, who highlighted the region’s untapped potential in horticultural exports. A context-setting address by a representative from Palladium India highlighted the objective of the workshop and the collective effort required to integrate FPOs into the export ecosystem. 

“FPOs are the future of rural entrepreneurship. With proper handholding, such as the collaborative effort we are witnessing between NABARD and Palladium, we can transform our farmers into global suppliers,”  said DDM,NABARD reinforcing the importance of institutional support and technical partnerships.  

During the inaugural session, the Regional Director (East Region) of APEDA delivered a special address, highlighting the importance of sensitising farmers about fruit and vegetable production.  

He stated, “The more FPOs are sensitised, the greater the benefits for farmers and the higher the export volumes from the state. We aim to facilitate direct exports through FPOs in the near future by providing comprehensive training and support throughout the export process. This initiative will inspire FPOs and significantly enhance exports across the state.” 

The Chief General Manager of NABARD also spoke, underlining the government’s vision of positioning agricultural exports as a cornerstone of rural prosperity and stressing the crucial role of FPOs in achieving this objective. He also mentioned that, “Mango exports are taking place at a significant scale in many states, and I would like to see Odisha reach a similar level of export excellence. I am particularly pleased that this workshop, which usually takes place in Bhubaneswar, was organized at the district level—bringing valuable insights directly to the farmers. I encourage farmers to actively engage with government agencies, marketing bodies, and institutions like NABARD and Palladium to enhance their understanding of import-export opportunities. NABARD, along with Palladium, is committed to supporting farmers through training, marketing, and other capacity-building initiatives. I urge farmers not only to take full advantage of these resources but also to share this knowledge with fellow farmers to collectively strengthen Odisha’s position in the export market. I sincerely appreciate Palladium for their critical role in organizing this impactful event and for the on-ground demonstrations and marketing support provided to the farming community.” 

This was followed by a detailed address from the Deputy Director, Horticulture, Sambalpur, who provided insights into the infrastructure and institutional support available for promoting mango exports from the region. Participants then attended a specialized session led by exporters, focusing on export market requirements for mangoes, covering quality standards, certifications, packaging, and buyer expectations from international markets. 

A detailed presentation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) for post-harvest handling, packaging, and logistics for mango exports, was developed and delivered by Palladium India. The SoP outlined critical steps such as grading, de-sapping, hot water treatment, and traceability protocols to ensure that the produce meets global quality benchmarks. The presentation not only gave FPOs clarity on technical aspects but also offered a roadmap to align their practices with international requirements. 

To further reinforce learning, Palladium conducted a hands-on, on-field demonstration of post-harvest management practices, enabling participants to directly observe key interventions such as sorting, cleaning, quality assessment, and packaging techniques suitable for export. The interactive session that followed allowed FPO representatives to engage directly with technical experts, clarify doubts, and explore possibilities for scaling up their export potential. 

The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by the AGM, NABARD, and was followed by a networking lunch session.