Vegetable export to London lights up faces of farmers amid lockdown

Amid the nationwide lockdown, when most economic activities have come to a grinding halt, with the cooperation of Epida organization, UP farmers exported green vegetables to London via Delhi.

Ghazipur: Faces of farmers in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh lit up even amid the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown as chillies and bottle gourds cultivated by them are being exported to London in collaboration with Epida, an organization of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The first batch of vegetables has already been dispatched to London from the Delhi airport. This has boosted their morale.

The first batch of 15 quintals of chillies and five quintals of bottle gourds was sent by farmers, Ram Kumar Rai and Jitendra Rai, in an air-conditioned vehicle to Delhi.

Farmer Jitendra Rai said he had grown superior varieties of chillies and bottle gourds on receiving orders.

"I have sent 15 quintals of chillies and five quintals of bottle gourds to Delhi which have already been dispatched to London. Vegetables for export are treated with prescribed insecticide, 12 days before they are dispatched. Only special varieties are exported. The farmers registered with Epida grow only export-quality vegetables," informed Rai.