ZIRO, October 1: A preparatory meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the District Secretariat Building, Ziro, to explore international export opportunities for Ziro Kiwi and strengthen market linkages for kiwi growers of Lower Subansiri district.
Saurabh Srivastava, Consultant, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Regional Office, Guwahati, and Jainy Badu, Deputy Director, Department of Trade & Commerce, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, interacted with local kiwi growers, cooperative society members and district officials to discuss export prospects, challenges and a roadmap for taking Ziro Kiwi to international markets.
The meeting was chaired by Assistant Commissioner Radhe Tatung and attended by District Agriculture Officer Leegang Ania, District Horticulture Officer Hibu Dante, Trade Development Officer Tai Arun, Chairman of Kiwi Growers Cooperative Society Ltd., Ziro, Bamin Siiri, Senior Progressive Farmer Hage Tara, members of the cooperative society, officials from the Departments of Trade & Commerce of Lower Subansiri and Keyi Panyor districts, and other kiwi growers.
In his welcome address, Radhe Tatung highlighted the prominent position of Ziro Valley in kiwi cultivation and stressed the need for a structured export model that can help farmers access international markets and secure better returns. He called for coordinated efforts among growers, government departments and export agencies to convert the valley’s agricultural potential into sustainable economic opportunities.
Briefing participants on APEDA’s proposed initiative, Saurabh Srivastava said the agency is exploring a pilot consignment of two metric tonnes of Ziro Kiwi to Singapore and Dubai this year. The proposed export is intended to assess production capacity, quality standards, marketing arrangements and existing challenges in kiwi cultivation and trade.
Srivastava also highlighted improved air connectivity from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, to destinations such as Dubai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, which could support the logistics required for international kiwi exports.
Hibu Dante said Ziro Kiwi is traditionally cultivated without chemical inputs and has potential for organic certification. He stressed the need for necessary certification and urged APEDA to organise handholding and capacity-building programmes to familiarise growers with export procedures and international quality standards.
Bamin Siiri informed the meeting that around 200 farmers are registered with the Kiwi Growers Cooperative Society Ltd., Ziro. Four major varieties—Allison, Bruno, Monty and Hayward—are cultivated in the valley. He expressed confidence in the proposed pilot export and said arranging two metric tonnes of kiwi would be manageable, assuring the cooperative society’s cooperation with APEDA.
Siiri also highlighted market-related challenges faced by local growers, stating that buyers from outside the state sometimes purchase kiwi before the fruits reach maturity. With limited alternative market linkages, farmers may be compelled to sell prematurely and at unfavourable prices. He called for direct market connections, greater recognition of the “Ziro Kiwi” identity and early interaction between growers and prospective buyers.
Leegang Ania called for technological and logistical support to improve post-harvest management. She sought APEDA’s assistance in providing an automatic grading machine, noting that manual grading is labour-intensive and can potentially damage the delicate fruits. She also requested transport subsidies and support mechanisms benefiting kiwi growers across the district.
Jainy Badu invited growers to participate in a proposed export-procedure handholding training programme scheduled to be held in Itanagar in November 2026 in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata. He encouraged growers to utilise APEDA’s support to participate in the proposed pilot export and gain practical experience in handling international trade requirements.
Badu also informed participants about the state government’s plans to explore kiwi exports to Southeast Asian markets through the Pangsu Pass route at Nampong.
Trade Development Officer Tai Arun stressed the importance of skill development and institutional support for kiwi growers of Ziro Valley. He proposed a specialised training programme on packaging for national and international markets in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkata, at Ziro. He said appropriate packaging, grading, quality assurance and collective marketing would be important for improving the competitiveness of Ziro Kiwi in domestic and international markets.
Senior Progressive Farmer Hage Tara and other growers also shared their experiences and suggestions, highlighting the need for improved market access, post-harvest infrastructure, technical guidance and stronger institutional support.
As part of the field visit, the visiting team inspected a kiwi orchard belonging to a member of the Kiwi Growers Cooperative Society Ltd., Ziro. The visit provided an opportunity to observe local growing conditions, fruit characteristics and cultivation practices and to assess the region’s production potential in relation to the proposed export initiative.
The meeting and orchard visit marked a step towards strengthening institutional collaboration, improving the export readiness of local kiwi growers and exploring international markets for Ziro Kiwi.
