Indian deal could be lifeline for Polish apple sector - FreshFruitPortal.com

Indian deal could be lifeline for Polish apple sector

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Indian deal could be lifeline for Polish apple sector

As Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki prepares to return from an Indian visit to explore export potential, www.freshfruitportal.com speaks with Union Owocowa (Fruit Union) president Jolanta Kazimierska about her hopes for a new apple deal to help alleviate losses in the sector.

Increasing exports to India would be hugely beneficial to a Polish apple sector that has been suffering badly since the Russian embargo took hold last year. manzanas_63543901 - panorama

Sales are currently approximately half of what they should be and the search continues to find alternative markets for mountains of apples in cold storage, before a new harvest later this year pushes volumes up even further.

"The volume of apples in storage is still significant. A portion of apples have been withdrawn from the market, some are being sold for processing and we are trying to increase sales on the domestic market so we are selling some apples; I'd say bits and pieces here and there," Kazimierska told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"However, as a comparison with previous years, we have around 50% fewer sales which is obviously not a great situation to be in.

"We keep looking for new markets but this process does seem to take quite a lot of time and meanwhile unfortunately we cannot say that there has been a great improvement in the scale of sales."

During the official Indian visit, Sawicki has held discussions with his Indian counterpart, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, with a view to increasing the export capacity of Polish products, particularly apples.

During the talks, the ministers discussed veterinary and phytosanitary issues and Sawicki emphasized the importance of speeding up reconciliation procedures to allow Polish apple supplies as soon as possible as well as the potential for greater two-way trade.

As part of the potential apple deal, the Polish Ministry of Agriculture is working on a promotional campaign entitled ‘Go India’ and is keen to reverse the current negligible fruit and vegetable trade between the two countries as well as increase trade in other export commodities such as meat.

"We haven't found any definitive significant markets yet but we have some prospective markets that we are looking at on the Arabian side of things. Unfortunately it is not the case that you sign an agreement and then it starts. Time is needed to build the relationship and build trust and get to know the rules and habits of a particular market that we are not used to cooperating with, Kazimierska added.

"Meanwhile, I am waiting to hear about the minister’s visit to India and how the talks went. I hope to hear good news. Hopefully the outcome of this Indian visit will be greatly beneficial to us.

"It (India) would potentially be a really good market for us and I am waiting for information from the chief phytosanitary inspector because, from our point of view apart from our minister, he is the key person to finalize the agreements that were made beforehand."

Last month, the Polish Ministry of Agriculture announced a withdrawal of several products from the market, including 155,700 metric tons (MT) of apples and pears, and invited farmers to apply for official withdrawal and re-direct produce to charitable free distribution, animal feed and/or to be used for biogas combustion.

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