The first of its kind 'fruit train' in India was waved off from Tadipatri Railway Station in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh last week. A train from the Guntakal Division was loaded with bananas, for export to Middle East countries, in a reefer container train from Tadipatri.
Growers from the Putlur region in Anantapur and Pulivendula in the Kadapa district are exporting Green Cavendish bananas under the brand name ‘Happy Bananas’ to many international markets through this special fruit train. Sources claim there is a potential to send 10,000 tons of fruits from Tadipatri after sourcing them from Anantapur and Kadapa districts.
English.sakshi.com reports that the government was targeting exports of 30,000 tons of fruits from all over Andhra Pradesh. It is collaborating with few corporate companies and with the local farmers to enhance the productivity, post-harvest treatment and packing, providing market linkage and ensuring higher prices with a regular increase in income year-on-year.
A load of 980 tonnes of locally grown bananas was flagged off to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, from where the consignment will be exported to Iran.
Photo source: Dreamstime.com
