New Delhi India January 23, ANI India has emerged as the largest exporter of Gherkins in the world. India exported cucumber and gherkins to the tune of 1,23, 846 metric tons with a value of USD 114 million during April-October 2020 -- 21 India has crossed the 200 million mark of export of agricultural processed product pickling cucumber, which has been referred to as gherkins or cornichons in the last financial year.
In 2020 -- 21 India had shipped 2,23, 515 metric tons of cucumber and gherkins with a value of USD 223 million.
Following the direction of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority APEDA undertook a series of initiatives in infrastructure development, product promotion in the global market and adherence to the food safety management system in processing units.
Gherkins are exported under two categories - cucumbers and gherkins, which are prepared and preserved by vinegar or acetic acid and cucumbers and gherkins, which are provisionally preserved.
Gherkin cultivation, processing and exports started in India in the early 1990s with a modest beginning in Karnataka and later expanded to the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Nearly 15 per cent of the world's gherkin requirement is grown in India.
Gherkins is currently exported to more than 20 countries, with major destinations being France, Germany, Australia, Spain, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Russia, China, Sri Lanka and Israel.
The Gherkin industry plays a key role in the creation of rural employment, besides its export potential. In India, the cultivation of gherkins is carried out under contract farming by around 90,000 small and marginal farmers with an annual production area of 65,000 acres.
Processed gherkins are exported in bulk as industrial raw material and ready to eat in jars. The bulk production is still a large part of the gherkin market. There are about 51 major companies in India that produce and export gherkins in drums and ready-to eat consumer packs.
APEDA has been involved in the promotion of processed vegetables, as well as providing financial assistance for the development of infrastructure and enhancing the quality of processed gherkins, food safety management systems in the processing units and implementation of food safety management systems in the international market.
A gherkin farmer earns about 80,000 metric tonne per acre and has a net income of Rs 40,000 on an average basis. Gherkin has a 90 day crop and the farmers take two crops a year. The processing plants of international standards have been set up here to cater to the requirements of foreign buyers.
All the gherkin manufacturing and exporting companies are certified or have all the certifications, including ISO, BRC, IFS, FSSC 22000 and HACCP. Many of the companies have adopted social audits. The employees are given statutory benefits because this ensures that all of their statutory benefits are given.