The Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first-ever shipment of Burmese grapes, known as ‘leteku’ in Assamese, from Guwahati to Dubai through Delhi.

The consignment of leteku was sourced and underwent packing at a collection centre in the Darrang district of Assam and it signifies APEDA’s ongoing promotional activities to expedite exports of agricultural and processed food products from the northeastern states of India.

The agency is expecting a positive response from the market for leteku given its overall health benefits.

APEDA chairman M Angamuthu told the Times of India, “The fruit makes a very pretty sight hanging in bunches all along the bark and the branches like tree ornaments. It is rich in vitamin C and iron. It is available in the northeast but we knew little that it could be exported.”

He even said that APEDA is working towards promoting more medicinal and exotic fruits from the northeast that have very high nutritional value but aren’t popularized enough in other Indian states either.

So far, APEDA has enabled exports of Assamese red rice known as ‘Bao-dhaan’ to the United States, Assam lemon known as ‘kaji nemu’, and jackfruits drawn from Krishi Sanyoga Agro Producer Company Ltd of Tripura to London.

The governmental body has also rolled out financial assistance to the private sector to build a comprehensive packaging house in Guwahati and is also simultaneously developing structured marketing strategies for export of food products and subsequent skill development, high-quality packaging and ramping up capacity.