Pomegranate Export from India: How to Get Started

India is one of the world's leading exporters of pomegranate. APEDA data confirms that pomegranates are among the major fruits exported from India, with grapes and pomegranates contributing the largest portion of India's fresh fruit export basket. Fresh fruits and vegetables exports from India reached USD 1818.56 million in 2024 to 2025. Major export destinations for Indian pomegranate include UAE, Netherlands, Bangladesh, Iraq, UK, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Oman. India's unique advantage is its ability to produce pomegranates year-round through the bahar system, unlike other exporting countries which have limited seasonal availability.

Is Export Realistic for Small Farmers

Direct export is not realistic for individual small farmers who produce 2 to 5 tonnes per season. Export requires consistent volume, quality, documentation, and cold chain infrastructure that individual small farmers typically cannot manage alone. However, there are practical pathways for small farmers to access export premiums. Joining a Farmer Producer Organisation that is already export-registered allows individual farmers to pool their produce and collectively meet export volume requirements. Selling to a registered export packhouse in your district gives you export-equivalent prices without managing any export documentation yourself. APEDA confirms that farmer registration can be carried out by a packhouse or State Horticulture Department, meaning your produce can enter the export system even if you are not personally registered as an exporter.

The HortiNet System for Pomegranate Traceability

APEDA operates an internet-based electronic service called HortiNet specifically covering pomegranates, grapes, mangoes, and other key export fruits. HortiNet provides end-to-end traceability from the farm to the retail shelf in the importing country. For pomegranate export, farmers must be registered in the HortiNet system, either through an APEDA-approved packhouse or through the State Horticulture Department. The exporter creates a lot under an approved packhouse, enters procurement details, adds packing details, and forwards the lot for testing at an APEDA-accredited laboratory. This traceability system is what makes Indian pomegranates acceptable to quality-conscious buyers in the EU, UK, and UAE who require proof that the fruit has been tested for pesticide residues and meets Maximum Residue Level standards.

APEDA Registration: First Step for Exporters

If you want to export pomegranates directly as a business rather than through a packhouse or FPO, APEDA registration is mandatory. APEDA registration provides the RCMC certificate which legally authorises export of agricultural and processed food products. The RCMC certificate is valid for five financial years from the date of issue and must be renewed after expiry. The registration fee is approximately Rs 5,900 including GST as of 2025. Before applying for APEDA registration, you must first obtain an Import Export Code from DGFT at dgft.gov.in at a fee of Rs 500. Documents required for APEDA registration include PAN card, GST registration certificate, IEC code, address proof, identity proof, cancelled cheque or bank certificate from your business account, and passport-size photographs of the authorised signatory. Applications are submitted online through the APEDA portal and the RCMC certificate is typically issued within 7 to 15 working days if all documents are in order.

Pesticide Residue Compliance is Non-Negotiable

The single biggest reason Indian pomegranate export shipments are rejected by importing countries is pesticide residue violations. Importing countries, especially in Europe, have very strict Maximum Residue Levels for pesticides. APEDA has published a specific list of agrochemicals recommended for control of diseases and insect pests for export of pomegranate, available on the APEDA HortiNet portal. Only pesticides from this approved list should be used on pomegranates intended for export. Stop all pesticide application at least 30 to 45 days before harvest to allow residues to fall below MRL limits. APEDA accredits laboratories across India for pesticide residue testing of export lots. Your packhouse will organise this testing as part of the export lot certification process.

Phytosanitary Certificate for Export

Every shipment of pomegranates exported from India requires a Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Plant Quarantine Authority of India. This certificate certifies that the consignment has been inspected and found free from quarantine pests and diseases. APEDA publishes specific phytosanitary requirements for different destination countries. As of April 2026, APEDA has published specific phytosanitary requirements for export of pomegranate fruits and arils to Canada. Market access has also been granted for export of pomegranate fruits and arils to the United States, Serbia, and other markets. Always check the current APEDA website for destination-specific requirements as these can change.

Export Packhouse Requirements

Pomegranate intended for export must be packed in APEDA-approved packhouses. These packhouses have infrastructure for sorting and grading by weight and size, pre-cooling facilities to bring fruit temperature down quickly after harvest, cold storage for maintaining temperature during aggregation, carton packing in standard export sizes, and laboratory testing access for pesticide residue checks. APEDA-approved packhouses are located in major pomegranate producing districts of Solapur, Nashik, Sangli, and Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and Bijapur and Bagalkot in Karnataka. Connecting with a nearby approved packhouse is the most practical first step for any farmer who wants their produce to enter the export supply chain.