The South Central Railway (SCR), in collaboration with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), launched the first Banana Export Train of the season on November 22, 2024 from Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh. This initiative marks a significant milestone in India’s agricultural export sector.
The train, carrying a load of 980 metric tonnes of locally grown bananas, is headed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, from where the consignment will be exported to international markets. This move is expected to save both time and fuel, as transporting such a large consignment by road would have required around 150 trucks.
The bananas are being exported under the brand name “Happy Bananas”, and the initiative aims to enhance the productivity, quality of produce, post-harvest treatment, and packing. Farmers from the Putlur region in Anantapur and Pulivendula in Kadapa district are exporting Green Cavendish bananas to many international markets.
This development is part of a broader effort to boost fruit exports from Andhra Pradesh, with the government targeting exports of 30,000 metric tonnes of fruits from the state. The collaboration with six major corporate companies aims to provide market linkage and ensure higher prices for local farmers.
