The Kerala Exporters Forum is gearing up to increase the export of fruits and vegetables from Kozhikode International Airport. But here’s the twist—they now want more of it to be grown right here in Kerala, not brought in from Tamil Nadu or Karnataka as is largely the case now.
A recent meeting convened by the Forum brought together officials from the Agriculture Department, the airport’s air cargo division, and exporters. The goal? To figure out how Kerala farmers can be part of this export push. According to discussions, the plan is to form farmer collectives and link them directly with export channels.
At the moment, vegetables heading abroad through Kozhikode mostly come from outside the state. Forum members and officials are now exploring if that can change. Can vegetables grown in Kerala meet the quality standards required for international export? That’s the big question.
A follow-up meeting is now on the cards, specifically to bring together local farmers around Kozhikode airport and the export sector. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Kerala Exporters Forum are expected to jointly lead this initiative.
Well, paperwork comes first. Farmers aiming to export will need to register with APEDA. This is especially important if they’re targeting markets like the US, UK, or European Union.
K N Prakash, a plant quarantine officer under the Union Ministry of Agriculture, attended the meeting and explained the export regulations. He also visited an APEDA-approved packing centre near the airport to check things out.
Kozhikode airport exported 4,345 tonnes of fruits and vegetables in 2024. That’s a noticeable jump from the 3,645 tonnes exported in 2023. On average, about 60 tonnes are now being shipped out every day.
Interestingly, most of the cargo includes vegetables, not fruits. The regulars? Bananas, banana leaves, curry leaves, and assorted vegetables.
Apart from Prakash, the meeting saw participation from airport cargo heads Vivek Pali and Abdul Aziz, Kerala Exporters Forum secretary Munshid Ali, and several agricultural and export officials, including those from Malappuram’s ATMA project and Kondotty Block Agriculture Office.
Whether Kerala’s farmers can fully replace Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in this export chain is still up in the air. But if things go to plan, more homegrown produce from Kerala might soon be heading to supermarket shelves abroad.
