BJP MP Jagadish Shettar has called on the Union government to establish an Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) unit in Belagavi, similar to the one in Mapusa, Goa.
In a meeting with Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on Tuesday, Shettar submitted a memorandum recommending the unit’s establishment near Belagavi Airport. He highlighted that this facility would aid farmers by providing cold storage and packaging services, helping keep farm produce fresh for longer and enabling them to sell at better prices.
The memorandum emphasized Belagavi’s key role in agricultural exports, noting that the district is the second-largest exporter of fruits and vegetables in Karnataka. Shettar pointed out that around 20% of India’s fruit and vegetable produce is wasted every year due to insufficient cold storage, causing an estimated loss of ₹13,300 crore in farmers’ earnings.
“Preserving the freshness and quality of produce is essential to prevent such losses,” he said.
In response, Goyal assured that the request would be given due consideration, with efforts made to support farmers, as per Shettar’s office release.
