From Punjab to the Gulf: India exports rose-scented litchis to the UAE and Qatar

Dubai: This summer, Indian expats in the UAE and Qatar can enjoy a wider variety of fruits from back home. Apart from the expected influx of mangoes from the summer harvest, litchis will now also be available.

Although India is famous for being a major global exporter of produce, the delivery of litchis to the selected Gulf countries will be a first. This growing assortment of fruit exports comes as part of India’s broader initiatives aimed at expanding their agricultural trading sector.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest exports.

The first batch of consignments were dispatched on June 23, and more are expected to come throughout the remaining months of summer. The country has allotted export quantities of 1 metric tonne for Qatar and 0.5 metric tonne for the UAE, amounting to a total of 1.5 tonnes of litchis.

In regards to the produce itself, the litchis come from Pathankot, Punjab and are rose-scented. The overall initiative is primarily spearheaded by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), alongside the Department of Horticulture, Government of Punjab, and Lulu Group. The farmer behind the magic is Shri Prabhat Singh from Sujanpur, India.

This new step towards diversifying fruit exports further strengthens India’s position as a long-standing trading partner for the GCC and broader Middle Eastern region.

“This milestone initiative underscores the excellence of India’s horticultural produce and highlights the country’s growing agri-export capabilities. It offers immense opportunities for farming communities by providing international market access for their fresh and high-value produce,” a statement from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry read.

Currently, countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq continue to be some of the top exporting destinations for India. In fact, according to APEDA data, exports of fresh fruits to the UAE amounted to over $270 million.

Authorities also note cherries and jamun as additional fruit exports that have potential to break into international markets, alongside the current standing export popularity of mangoes, bananas, grapes, and oranges.

For the local farming community, the success of litchis internationally also pave the way for more economic growth and opportunities. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry further emphasised this further stating, “The success of farmers like Shri Prabhat Singh underscores the potential of Pathankot — which benefits from favourable agro-climatic conditions—as an emerging hub for quality litchi cultivation and exports.”