Dr' G'K'Vasantha Kumar

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POMEGRANATE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
EXPERIENCES

• Dr. G.K.Vasantha Kumar
• Director of Horticulture,
• Department of Horticulture
• Government of Karnataka, Lalbagh,
• Bangalore 560 004, Karnataka, India
• PHONE 91 - 80 - 26571925
• FAX 91 - 80 26578072
• E-mail horticulturedirector_at_vsnl.net
• Website http//www.horticulture.kar.nic.in

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World Scenario

• Popular in Eastern as well as Western Western
  parts of the world.
• The crop is also cultivated in the Mediterranean
  region. Pomegranates thrive well in regions with
  semi-arid to sub-tropical climatic conditions.
• The crop is cultivated in Spain, Iran, India,
  Turkey, South East Asia, Afghanistan, tropical
  Africa, parts of USA etc.
• It is grown for its fully luscious grains called
  Arils the fruits are very attractive with
  sweet acidic taste.
• The fruits are mainly used for dessert purposes.
  
• The fruits are also processed to make juice,
  syrup, jam, jelly, wine, to flavour cakes, baked
  apples, etc.
• Of late, its nutritional and medicinal values are
  given ample importance.

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Pomegranate Cultivation in India

• Area - About 63,000 Hectares.
• Production - About 5.00 lakh tons/annum
• Comparative Advantage -
• Production of Pomegranate almost throughout the
  year.
• Supply of Pomegranates even during off - season
  to the European Countries.
• Cultivation in Arid and Semi-arid tracts of the
  states Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
  Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil
  Nadu
• Maharastra is the largest producer.
• Farmers Cultivate the crop by
• Carefully selecting varieties.
• Adopting advanced technologies.
• Spurt in cultivation and trading of Pomegranate
  in India from the last two decades.
• Important varieties cultivated are Ganesh,
  Dholka, Seedless(Bedana), Bhagwa, Araktha.
• Seedless verities such as Paper Shell, Spanish
  Ruby, Mascut Red and Velladu show great potential
• Peak harvest January to April

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Consumer Preference

• Consumer preference - changing from time to
  time and from country to country.
• Earlier, Ganesh variety with big sized fruits was
  the preferred one, and the fruits were exported
  to the Gulf countries.
• Now, in Europe and other parts of the world,
  varieties such as Bhagwa (Kesar), Mridula are the
  suitable and accepted ones.
• Soft seeded, coloured varieties with high per
  cent of juice with easy to remove arils are
  preferred.
• Fruits weighing more than 500 gms with superior
  qualities - immediate and ready acceptance in the
  international markets.

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Grading of fruits

• Grading based on size and colour.
• Super size Fruits are free from spots and
• individual fruit
  weight is more than750grams.
• King size Fruits are attractive and individual
  fruit weight is 500-700 grams.
• Queen size Fruits are attractive, red and
  individual fruit weight is 400-500 grams.
• Prince size Fruits are attractive, red and
  individual fruit weight is 300-400 grams.

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The desirable fruit characters of fresh
pomegranate for export purpose

• Dark rose pink colour of the fruit.
• Fruit weight around 500 gms.
• Round shape of the fruit.
• Uniform size and shape of the fruit in a pack or
  box.
• Dark rose pink arils.
• Softness of the seeds.
• Higher sugars near about 16-170 Brix.
• Free from scars, russetting, disease spots,
  insect injury, scratches, etc.
• Smooth cutting at the stem end.
• Bracts/calyx without any damage and having
  freshness.
• Pleasant flavour and aroma.

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Marketing and Export Potential

• No organized marketing systems for pomegranate.
• Domestic marketing for pomegranate is fairly
  balanced as of now.
• Farmers normally dispose their produce to
  contractors who take the responsibility of
  transport to far off markets.
• Some progressive farmers who have developed
  contacts in urban areas despatch them on their
  own and are able to get a reasonable price for
  their produce.

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Fruits ready for Packing for Export
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• Changes in varietal selection and in cultivation
  practices.
• Pest and disease incidence, fall in demand and
  price - effect on the cultivation of pomegranate
  in the state.
• Cultivation for export purpose - improved due to
  exploring of market potentialities.
• Farmers of Bijapur and Bagalkot districts
  exporting pomegranate through their associations
  to Gulf and European Union for the last 5 years.
• Koppal district - New entrant Exports began in
  2004.

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Export Potential

• The pomegranate fruit is considered an exotic in
  European and Middle East countries.
• There is scope for exporting Indian pomegranates
  to Bangladesh, Bahrain, Canada, Germany, United
  Kingdom, Japan, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Omen,
  Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
  Switzerland, U.A.E. and U.S.A.
• The other potential markets are, Belgaum, Spain,
  France, Italy, Netherlands, Philippines, South
  Africa, Brazil and Mexico.

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Pomegranate in Karnataka

• Advent of Ganesh variety revolutionized
  pomegranate cultivation in Northern Karnataka
  especially in the districts of Bijapur, Bagalkot,
  Koppal and Raichur.
• In the initial years, big sized fruits with TSS
  15 Brix were exported mainly to the Gulf
  countries.

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Success Story

• Kustagi and Yelburga taluks of Koppal district
  remote and most backward areas of the State.
• Poor rainfall, frequent droughts, high
  temperature, soils are also either calcarious or
  sodic.
• Low precipitation levels and distribution of
  rainfall have added to the crop failures.
• Predominant crop Agricultural crops and onion
  and chillies.
• Horticultural crops Grapes, Pomegranate,
  Banana, Mango, Ber, Sweet orange have been grown
  since the last two decades.
• Cultivation of Pomegranate Farmers have
  been pro-active in adopting new technology for
  cultivation and post harvest handling of
  Pomegranate.

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• Benefited from the efforts of the State
  Department of Horticulture in training the
  farmers in export oriented production.
• Training Programmes conducted in the farmers
  fields in six steps, in collaboration with the
  Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
  Development Authority (APEDA) during 2003.
• Farmers given suitable guidance regarding
  cultivation and care of regulating the number of
  fruits, irrigation with fertigation, plant
  protection schedule and care in harvesting.
• Out of 50 farmers trained, nearly 30 farmers were
  successful and 20 farmers exported the produce.
• Exports started in 2004.

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• About 250 tons of pomegranate were exported from
  this small area and volume of trade was in the
  tune of Rs.8.50 crores.
• The produce fetched a price of Rs.35,000/- (750
  ) per ton.
• On an average, they have exported 7.5 10 tons
  of fruits per hectare remaining 10 12. 5 tons
  were sold locally.
• Farmers have earned about Rs.4.5 lakhs to 5.75
  lakhs per hectare (9600 12300 .
• Incurred an expenditure of Rs.75,000/- per
  hectare (1600 ).
• Net Profit - Rs.3.75 lakhs to Rs.5.00 lakhs per
  hectare (8000 10700 ) in some cases, it has
  crossed Rs.6.25 lakhs per hectare (13400 ).
• Farmers convinced about- profitability of
  pomegranate cultivation as there is considerable
  demand for the pomegranate grown in the region.
  

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• Other Aspects
• Farmers prefer separate packing units, cold chain
  links.
• A small but significant intervention by the
  Government- helped farmers to boost the
  production and quality of the fruits and gave
  them higher returns.
• Similar efforts in other dry belts of the state.
• Problems due to diseases such as bacterial
  blight, pomegranate wilt have a deleterious
  effect on the crop in northern districts of the
  state.
• In Bijapur and Bagalkot areas, utmost care has to
  be taken specially in maintaining hygienic
  conditions.

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Bacterial Blight
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• Indias contribution to the export is less than
  5, although we are in first position in
  production of Pomegranate.
• Scope for diversified use of pomegranate and
  hence value added products can be promoted.
• Consumer preference, colour,TSS and demand for
  crop are important aspects to be focused upon.
• Time of export, choice of variety, quality
  maintenance and regulation of fruit size are
  important aspects in the production of
  pomegranate for export.

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Pomegranate International Scenario

• The technical sessions during the International
  Symposium on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean
  Fruits held at Adana, Turkey, from October 16
  19, 2006 comprised of -
• Orchard Culture and Management Countries of
  focus were Bangladesh, Israel, Iran, Turkey and
  India.
• Genetic Conservation and Germplasm.
• Physiology.
• Breeding and Genetics.
• Nutrition and Health.
• Plant Protection.
• Post Harvest Technology.
• Processing, Marketing Economy.

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• Israel and Turkey have taken up varietal trials
  on
• Pomegranate.
• Iran too has been in the forefront with regard to
  
• research on Pomegranate.
• There is a lot of germplasm / breeding collection
  in Iran, Israel and also Turkey.
• Exchange of germplasm between countries if not
• available in research stations will go a long
  way in developing new varieties.
• Most of the varieties in the Mediterranean region
  are
• sour with few sweet varieties.
• Sweet sour varieties with good colour are not
  common.

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• Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas sp.) and Wilt are
  not a major problem in other pomegranate growing
  countries as the same was not presented /
  discussed by scientists (Pathologists) in the
  symposium.
• Our Sweet sour variety Bhagwa (Kesar) and
  Wonderful variety of U.S in Italy found
  appreciation in general and are suited for
  marketing in the international market. One of
  the findings presented was that sweetness in
  pomegranates is not only due to sugar content but
  also due to low acidic content.
• Nutritional aspects of pomegranate were discussed
  and it is felt that it can enhance its utility.
  Value addition is also important to increase the
  acceptability of pomegranates by consumers.

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• India has a very good potential provided we meet
  the quality standards of the importing countries.
  The exports can be enhanced from the present 3000
  4000 MT tons to about 20,000 30,000 tons.
• A presentation was made regarding aril separating
  machine for pomegranates in Israel which
  separates arils to different grades. Similar
  mechanization may be tried in India also.
• A presentation was also made by a firm based in
  United Kingdom regarding different packaging
  films to enhance the shelf life of fruits under
  normal temperature.

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• Different grades of films suitable for other
  fruits, vegetables, flowers are also available.
  Such grades of films can be tried for packing
  traditional flowers / loose flowers like jasmine,
  etc.
• Dubai Airport has developed an extensive cargo
  system to handle perishable cargos in an area of
  34,000 Sq.Mtr. with a capacity of 1.80 lakh tons
  per year.
• Alstemier Airport and Dubai Airport are mainly
  providing facilities for C F agents for
  downloading and uploading cargos.

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• The Government provides office space and
  information facilities at a cost to international
  companies. Similar facilities can also be created
  in our international airports for customs,
  phytosanitary clearances, Municipal, Domestic
  certification for easing procedural formalities
  under single window system.
• In order to improve the quality and increase
  marketing prospects, good infrastructure at
  production centers, at district level and in the
  terminal markets need to be provided / upgraded.
•  
• Visit to European markets by farmers will give
  greater benefit for studying the quality
  requirements and taste changes preferred by the
  consumers. Pomegranate should also be projected
  as an important fruit having nutritional as well
  as medicinal values.

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Pomegranate Scenario in US

• Cultivated in dry regions
• California and Arizona- major centres for
  production
• Harvesting August to January
• Varities Wonderful, Grenada
• US market Preference for solid red pomegranate
• An Importer from US (Schramm, Williams
  Associates, Inc., Washington DC, USA) has made a
  contact. India has ample scope for exporting
  pomegranates to the US. The Government of India
  should take steps regarding policy issues and
  agreement with US to encourage exports to the US.

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Conclusion

• The advent of new varieties having high consumer
  preference and technical advancement in
  cultivation has made this crop more popular.
• Owing to the nutritional and medicinal values of
  the fruits, there is preference among the
  consumers in the domestic and international
  markets.
• Bhagwa (Kesar) variety is best suited for
  cultivation in the tropical areas. This variety
  is one of the best varieties suitable for export
  purpose and it is gaining popularity among
  consumers.
• Most of the Pomegranates produced is consumed
  locally and about 1 per cent is exported. The
  exports have not been substantial since the
  international standards were not known.

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• Of late, Indian Pomegranates have penetrated into
  the European Union since suitable varieties
  conforming to international standards are being
  produced. Karnataka has exported about 2000 MT
  to other countries during the last few years.
  There is potential for export to the United State
  of America also. Diseases such as Bacterial
  Blight, Wilt, etc., have created problems in
  obtaining economic yields.
• In view of the scope for value addition in
  pomegranate for alternative use, medicinal uses
  of pomegranate, better shelf life, and the export
  potential, its cultivation in the semi-arid areas
  under protected irrigation needs to be
  encouraged.
• Proper varietal selection, crop and post harvest
  management, infrastructure such as cold chain,
  facilities for marketing etc, will augment the
  cultivation of quality pomegranate and will help
  in increasing the exports to a tune of about
  20,000 30,000 MT tons.
• In this background, India can definitely make a
  dent in pomegranate trade in the world market.

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Thank You