Agri export agencies hope for better deals

Pune: Alphonso mangoes from Maharashtra are among the thousands of metric tonnes of Indian agricultural products sent to European Union markets every year which is unlikely to change even after the UK's exit.

Some market experts said Brexit is actually an opportunity to secure deals and export orders from the UK to boost the volume of Indian exports. Senior export officials working for the state and national agricultural export promoting agencies were hopeful about continued patronage for Indian agricultural products from the UK and the 27 EU nations.

Since a large chunk of India's exports to Europe heads to the United Kingdom, officials from the Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board hoped Brexit will not disrupt it.

A senior member of the state board's export promotion department said India and particularly Maharashtra's agri-exports to the UK have grown over the last year, especially those of alphonso mango, pomegranate and even grapes. "Export of flowers from the state too picks up substantially around special occasions like Valentine's Day and Christmas, every year. The annual volume of exports to the UK is testimony of the high demand for our products there. Thus, we don't foresee any real impact on our export as a result of the country breaking away from European Union."