HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Nov 28: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd), has stepped up efforts to promote Arunachal Kiwi by sending the state’s organic produce to various embassies and consulates, marking a significant expansion of Raj Bhavan’s annual outreach.
The initiative is part of his ongoing campaign to bring national and international attention to the work of kiwi farmers and the State’s emerging strength in horticulture.
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Every year, Raj Bhavan dispatches curated boxes of Arunachal Kiwi to the country’s top dignitaries, including the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Union ministers, Governors and chief ministers.
Officials said that this year the outreach has gone global with kiwi consignments sent to foreign missions as part of an effort to explore new international markets and strengthen brand visibility for the state’s produce.
Raj Bhavan noted that Arunachal Pradesh accounts for nearly 40 per cent of India’s domestic kiwi production, a figure that highlights both the State’s favourable climate and the sustained efforts of local farmers.
Arunachal is also the first state in the country to secure organic certification for kiwi, placing it at an advantage as consumer demand for chemical-free, high-quality produce grows in both domestic and international markets.
In his acknowledgment of the gift, the Prime Minister praised the gesture and said the kiwis symbolise the fertile land, natural wealth and industrious spirit of the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
He said the State’s rise as India’s largest producer of kiwi reflects the determination of its people and the focused work undertaken by the government to convert local resources into new economic opportunities.
He added that the flavour of the produce would remind him of the warmth and goodwill of the people of the State.
According to the State Horticulture Department, Arunachal Pradesh produced more than 70 lakh kilograms of kiwi this year, involving close to 1,500 farmers across 3,582 hectares.
While West Kameng and Lower Subansiri remain the major kiwi belts, new cultivation zones are emerging in Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Shi Yomi, Tawang, Upper Subansiri and Kurung Kumey, as well as in Keyi Panyor, Kamle’s Kamporijo circle, Sagalee in Papum Pare, and areas under Upper Siang including Mariyang, Singa and Gelling.
Officials said the Vibrant Village Programme has played a role in introducing kiwi cultivation in frontier villages such as Singa and Gelling, where early outcomes show encouraging prospects for long-term livelihood growth.
To bolster market access, agencies including the Department of Horticulture, Arunachal Pradesh Marketing Board and APEDA are working with farmers to connect them to national buyers and explore export avenues. Officials said the combined efforts aim to ensure that the gains of increased production translate into sustainable income and long-term stability for kiwi-growing communities.
