India's banana and baby corn to be exported to Canada

India's baby corn and banana will soon be exported to Canada as the Canadian authorities have granted market access for these farm products with immediate effect, the union government said on Saturday.

The negotiations between National Plant Protection Organisations of India and Canada on market access for Indian banana and baby corn resulted in Canadian market access for these commodities, it said.

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, met Cameron MacKay, Canadian High Commissioner in India to discuss the issue.

According to McKay, India will be able to export baby corn to Canada from this month only after updation of directive D-95-28: Plant Protection Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Corn and the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

"Based on the technical information provided for fresh banana by India, Canada has approved banana for entry into Canada with immediate effect," it said.

According to the Centre's data, India is one of the world's leading producers of bananas with a share of around 25% of total output. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh contribute more than 70% of the country's banana production.