Gulf airspace turmoil stalls Kerala’s vegetable lifeline amid West Asia conflict

The West Asia conflict coincides with Ramzan, traditionally the busiest period for fruit and vegetable exports to the Gulf. (PTI)

• Kerala-Gulf vegetable exports stopped due to West Asian flight cuts
• Calicut airport exporters face losses during Ramadan season
• Freight costs and spoilage endanger jobs and farmers' incomes

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The steady flow of fresh vegetables from Kerala to Gulf nations has been abruptly disrupted after widespread flight cancellations linked to the intensifying West Asian crisis. The suspension has severed a crucial supply chain that brings familiar flavours from home to millions of expatriates.

According to a report in The Times of India, for years, passenger aircraft bound for destinations across the Gulf have doubled as cargo carriers, transporting consignments of farm-fresh produce such as curry leaves, raw bananas, plantain leaves and pineapples.

These shipments cater to nearly 2.3 million Keralite families living in countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, where demand for native vegetables remains consistently high.

Exporters operating out of Calicut International Airport — popularly known as Karipur airport — have borne the brunt of the disruption, reported The Times of India. Around 70 traders based at the airport collectively dispatch close to 90 tonnes of indigenous vegetables daily during peak periods. The unexpected halt has sent shockwaves through the sector, dealing a heavy setback to growers who rely extensively on overseas buyers.

The crisis coincides with Ramzan, traditionally the busiest period for fruit and vegetable exports to the Gulf. Abdurahman M, managing director of Marvel Exports and general secretary of the Calicut Exporters Association, described the timing as particularly damaging. He noted that advance bookings for bananas and pineapples had surged ahead of the holy month, only for shipments from Karipur to grind to a near standstill.

According to exporters, the airport typically handles about 75 tonnes of perishable cargo each day, with volumes crossing 90 tonnes during festive seasons. When flights were grounded on Saturday, nearly 30 tonnes of produce had to be offloaded, much of which spoiled before it could reach alternative markets.

Over the years, the Karipur-centred trade has evolved into an industry valued at more than ₹300 crore annually, largely sustained by the Gulf-based Malayali diaspora. If the air traffic impasse persists, expatriate households may soon find their preferred vegetables missing from supermarket shelves.

Although limited services to Oman continue, exporters say the steep rise in freight charges — nearly double the usual rates — has rendered shipments commercially unviable.

The vegetable export ecosystem supports approximately 1,000 direct jobs and provides livelihoods to over 5,000 more people engaged in packaging, logistics, sourcing and allied services. Cultivators who tailor their crops specifically for overseas markets now face mounting uncertainty as unsold harvests pile up.

The disruption follows heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, whose escalating hostilities have rattled the broader Middle East. Recent military exchanges have triggered airspace restrictions and precautionary flight suspensions across several countries, affecting passenger and cargo operations alike. Airlines have either cancelled or rerouted services to avoid conflict zones, leading to cascading effects on trade routes that depend heavily on commercial flights.