Panaji: To boost agriculture exports from Goa and neighbouring states, the state government has decided to set up an export pack house facility and related infrastructure on a turnkey basis at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, at a cost of Rs 13.5 crore.
Vision for Organic Export Hub
Agriculture Director Sandeep Faldesai stated that the government aims to transform Goa into an organic export hub. He highlighted that the presence of Goans abroad and tourists using local produce has opened export opportunities, as “Goan products are tasty as compared to others.”
“We will get a good market for our agriculture produce,” he said, adding that exports require infrastructure compliant with Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) standards. He noted that no such facility exists within a 300km radius of Goa.
Nearest Facilities and Organic Advantage
Faldesai pointed out that the nearest facilities are in Ratnagiri and Satara in Maharashtra, and Hubballi and Dharwad in Karnataka. He emphasized that produce grown in Goa is largely organic by default, which would support exports through the proposed facility.
Products in Demand
- Green chilli
- Cashew
- Mancurad mango
- Moira banana
- Alsando
- Korgut rice
Project Details and Support
The Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board stated that the project will enable handling, grading, precooling, and export of perishable agricultural and horticultural produce from Goa and parts of north Karnataka and Maharashtra. The board has proposed setting up the facility under the APEDA scheme as a common infrastructure facility.
Alignment with Agriculture Export Policy
The state’s Agriculture Export Policy (AEP), notified in 2022, focuses on increasing farmers’ income and boosting Goa’s share in national agriculture exports. It aims to promote Goa as an export hub, build export-oriented infrastructure, and encourage indigenous, organic, and traditional products.
“The state can become an export hub owing to the facility of the Mormugao port and the Dabolim airport,” the policy states.
