Pomegranate

• Context (PIB): Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitates India’s first commercial trial shipment of Sangola pomegranates to the US.

Pomegranate

• It is an important fruit crop of arid and semi-arid regions originated from Iran.
• India is the only country in the world where pomegranate is available throughout the year.
• Pomegranate is propagated vegetatively by cuttings, air layering or gootee.
• Pomegranate-producing states Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, with Maharashtra contributing to more than 50% of the production share.
• Soil: Can be grown on a wide range of soils, from sandy soil to loamy soil.
• Popular varieties: Bhagwa, considered amongst the best varieties around the world.
• Agro-climatic requirements
  • Can be grown up to an altitude of 500 m.
  • It thrives well under hot, dry summers and cold winters, provided irrigation facilities are available.
  • The tree requires a hot and dry climate during fruit development and ripening.
  • Pomegranate trees are deciduous in areas of low winter temperature and evergreen or partially deciduous in tropical and sub-tropical conditions.
  • It can tolerate frost to a considerable extent in the dormant stage.

• India produces some of the best varieties of Pomegranate in terms of quality with soft fleshy seeds, low acidity and attractive colour.
• India ranks seventh in production of pomegranate in the world and the total area under cultivation is around 2,75,500 hectares (as on Aug 2023).