As India is gearing up to enhance its trade, Karnataka has added one more agri product to the export basket. Karnataka will now export jamun (Indian blackberry) to the United Kingdom for the first time, with two trial consignments recently dispatched. The initiative is a part of the government’s broader push to diversify exports of niche and indigenous products.
According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the fruits prepared for export are directly sourced from farmers, processed, and packed at APEDA-approved facilities before being air-shipped to London. APEDA aims to minimise the involvement of any middle procurement to ensure the farmers get the requisite share of profit from their products.
The shipments are a debut effort under APEDA’s broader mandate to boost the export of agricultural products from Karnataka, particularly those with limited market exposure abroad. India's jamun exports increased by more than 30% in the last fiscal year. North America and Europe account for a majority share of India's Jamun exports. Karnataka, being one of the highest producers of jamun, wants to leverage this opportunity to further tap international market. Karnataka, one of India's leading producers of Jamun - a fruit known for its rich medicinal value and health benefits - is now poised to become a major player in the international fresh fruit segment, APEDA said.
While the government hailed the move as a step toward promoting farmer incomes and showcasing Indian biodiversity globally, the long-term commercial viability of jamun in overseas markets continues to grow.
While India has marked its significance as an exporter of agricultural products like Basmati rice, spices, marine products, tea, and coffee are long-standing staples so far, now APEDA is focusing on how the exporters from Karnataka can better tap into perishable organic agri products like fruits.
The export of jamun from Karnataka is in line with India’s recent attempts to broaden its agri-export portfolio by tapping into superfoods and nutritionally rich indigenous produce. In recent years, India has also introduced products like dragon fruit, millets, and jackfruit to global markets, particularly in countries with large South Asian diasporas.
A consignment of ‘Jamwant’, a premium variety of Indian blackberry, previously made its debut in London a couple of years ago. Classified as an exotic fruit in European markets, Jamwant is prized for its high pulp content—over 90%—and is noted for its therapeutic qualities, positioning it as a potential contender in the region’s growing demand for functional and health-focused produce.
