Bhubaneswar, September 24: Odisha has found a new market for the Colocasia and papaya in Ireland. A new feather has been added in the agriculture sector of Odisha with 100 kg Colocasia and 320 kg green papaya from Dhenkanal have been exported to Ireland through Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.

This success has been possible under the strong leadership of the Directorate of Horticulture under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, with the support of the Gates Foundation and the joint coordination by Palladium.

Dhenkanal's 'Saptasajya Agro Producer Company', which has become a symbol of the collective strength of small farmers, is celebrating this success. Saptasajya Agro Producers Company is continuously striving to build a prosperous agricultural economy, providing fair price to the farmers for their labor and increase the demand for Odisha's agricultural products in the global market.

This time, by exporting high-quality colocasia to Ireland for the first time along with Papaya, this farmer producer organization has added another milestone to its journey of success. This is not just an export, but an effort to give a global platform to the dreams of Odisha farmers. With continuous efforts in this direction, more than 140 metric tons of fresh vegetables and fruits have been exported to 10 international markets from 2024 by Palladium under the leadership of the Agriculture Department. Through this export, the concerned farmers have been able to get 40 per cent to 62 per cent added value of their produce.

This initiative will not only provide fair prices to the farmers but will also enable them to become self-reliant and meet the demands of the global market. This export success has become a source of inspiration for other FPOs and farmers across the state.