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India
has been exporting garlic for many years. Even in 1961-62, India exported
about 2,000 tonnes of garlic. Major importing countries of Indian garlic
have been Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Zambia, UAE, Bahrain, Mauritius, Kuwait,
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The export has been 2-3% of the total production.
The quantum of exports has been fluctuating due to frequent and sudden
change in the policy of garlic-importing countries. China, France, Spain
and Egypt are, however, major garlic-exporting countries. These countries
being at higher latitudes produce bigger-cloved garlic which are more
in demand. In India, production of bigger-cloved garlic is though not
on big scale, it is picking up in northern hills and Nilgiri hills in
view of increasing demand in export market. Yamuna Safed 3 ( G 282 ) and
Agrifound Parvati are the varieties (developed by NHRDF), which are in
great demand as they have 50-60 mm bulb diameter with 10-15 cloves per
bulb. Cultivation of Yamuna Safed 3 ( G 282 ) garlic from export angle
is picking up in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Haryana and Punjab.India
exported 12,210.79 tonnes of garlic in 2006-07.
If we are able to produce bigger-cloved variety, the export
can be increased by 10-15 times easily. The export is mainly arranged
from the ports of Mumbai, Tuticorin, Cochin, Chennai and Kolkata. |