Varanasi: Agricultural exports from Purvanchal recorded significant growth in recent years, supported by govt policies conducive to agriculture and exports. Fruits, vegetables and flowers grown in eastern UP are being shipped to markets in Gulf countries, Europe, Bangladesh and Nepal.Efforts by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority helped reduce role of middlemen, allowing farmers to participate more directly in the export process and earn better returns.Deputy general manager of APEDA’s regional office, C B Singh, said export of perishable agricultural products from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport witnessed record growth over past six years and Varanasi and the wider Purvanchal region were emerging as key centres for agricultural exports as overseas demand for locally grown produce rises.According to APEDA, exports increased from 4 metric tonnes in 2020-21 to more than 1,000 metric tonnes in 2025-26. Year-wise figures stood at 4 MT in 2020-21, 157 MT in 2021-22, 561 MT in 2022-23, 750 MT in 2023-24, 1,032 MT in 2024-25 and 1,010 MT in 2025-26. Singh said exports dipped slightly in 2025-26 due to trade disruptions in the Middle East in Mar, but remained above the 1,000 MT mark.He said farmers in Purvanchal are increasingly cultivating crops in line with international quality standards. With reduced dependence on middlemen, around 50 farmer producer organisations and nearly 20,000 farmers in the region are directly or indirectly linked to the export chain.Over past five years, more than 180 FPOs across UP are promoted as exporters. To help farmers understand global demand and export procedures, state govt and APEDA organised more than 40 capacity-building and awareness programmes, national and international seminars and buyer-seller meets in Varanasi region.Major products exported from Varanasi airport include green chilli, okra, pointed gourd, ivy gourd, green peas, mangoes, litchi, bananas, banana flowers, guavas, colocasia, drumsticks, bottle gourd, jackfruit, brinjal, amla and muskmelon. There is high demand in international markets for marigold and rose flowers from the region.
