بھارت نے پہلی بار گلاب خوشبو والی لیچی قطر اور یو اے ای کو برآمد کی
AMN / NEW DELHI / Pathankot
— In a fragrant milestone for Indian horticulture, the country has exported its first-ever international consignment of rose-scented litchis from Pathankot, Punjab to Doha (Qatar) and Dubai (UAE) — a move set to sweeten India’s agri-export journey.
The shipment, flagged off on June 23, 2025, includes 1 metric tonne to Qatar and 0.5 metric tonne to the UAE, marking the debut of Punjab’s prized, aromatic litchis on the global fruit stage.
This initiative was spearheaded by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in partnership with Punjab’s Horticulture Department. The effort also received strong support from the LuLu Group and progressive farmer Prabhat Singh of Sujanpur, whose premium produce met export quality standards.
Pathankot: Punjab’s New Fruit Frontier
Punjab, which accounted for 12.39% of India’s total litchi production in FY 2023–24 with 71,490 metric tonnes grown across 4,327 hectares, is now emerging as a key player in premium fruit exports. Pathankot’s cool and conducive climate has made it a natural hub for high-quality litchi cultivation.
India’s total litchi exports during the same fiscal stood at 639.53 metric tonnes, and this rose-scented variety is expected to give a fresh boost to those numbers.
Sweet Signals for Agri-Exports
India’s overall agri-exports touched USD 3.87 billion in FY 2024–25, registering a 5.67% growth, underscoring the country’s increasing competitiveness in global fresh produce markets. With growing demand for exotic fruits like cherries, jamun, and now fragrant litchis, the government’s push toward diversification and farmer empowerment is clearly bearing fruit.
The message is clear: India’s farms are going global—one fragrant fruit at a time.
