Agri Park exports 1.2 tonnes mangoes, pomegranates to US

The first shipment of 1.2 tonnes of mangoes and pomegranates produced at Innova Agri Bio Park here was flagged off for export to the US today.

The Park is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project supported by the Central Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Food Karnataka Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the state government.

"This is a testimony of the government and industry-led Best Management Practice (BMP) to deliver real on-the-ground results, improving on farm prosperity, productivity, agro-environmental sustenance," State Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar said, after flagging off the shipment.

The shipment contained 250 boxes of mangoes and 50 boxes of pomegranates under the brand 'FarmRus', a company release said.

Innova Agri Bio Park Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said the committed support from the state government and company's partners had resulted in the shipment of 'FarmRus' to US, validating the project model.

"This will bolster the agricultural industry and the very concept of Agri Bio Park." Innova Agri Bio Park Ltd is only the Gamma Irradiation facility in India which is certified by the US, integrated with pack house comprising automatic hot water treatment, sorting, grading and packing facilities, the release said.

The Park enables both farmers and exporters from southern states to save a lot in exporting mangoes to the US, it said.

Among the features of the park located at Malur, about 45 km from Bengaluru, is the Gamma Irradiation Facility established with an investment of Rs 35 crore, the release said.