'Mango exports reach England as Jharkhand farmer's income triples'

What Happened

Jiwanti Bara, a 50-year-old farmer from Birnibera village in Jharkhand’s Simdega district, grows Amrapali mangoes on a family orchard. Historically, she relied on local traders who set prices during harvest, risking wastage when buyers did not arrive in time. Recently, her mangoes have begun reaching organized buyers across India, with some consignments flowing to international markets including England, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. She says she felt happy and proud to learn that fruit grown by farmers like her could reach international markets, and she now hopes to access more markets to secure better prices for her family’s produce.

Why It Matters

The shift from local, trader-dominated sales to organized markets is framed as improving bargaining power and potential incomes for Jharkhand’s smallholder farmers. The development narrative ties the export trend to a structured program aimed at expanding livelihood opportunities through horticulture and better market access, potentially translating limited farm revenue into broader market reach and higher prices.

Background

Jharkhand’s Birsa Harit Gram Yojana (BHGY) is a flagship initiative of the state Rural Development Department intended to create long-term livelihood opportunities via horticulture. Support for participating farmers comes from PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action), along with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), district administrations, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and teams under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The program has led to orchards on nearly 1.86 lakh acres of private land and, by 2026, was benefiting around 2.15 lakh rural households across 24 districts. Amrapali and Mallika mango varieties were highlighted for their flavor, regular fruiting, and resilience for long-distance transport. As production expanded, the challenge became linking fruit with better, more organized markets.

Key Facts

• Jiwanti Bara is a 50-year-old farmer from Birnibera, Simdega district, Jharkhand.
• The orchard is planted with Amrapali mango trees; Mallika and Amrapali varieties are noted for export suitability.
• Historically, local traders largely determined sale prices during harvest; unsold fruit carried risk of wastage.
• BHGY is a state government horticulture livelihood program implemented with PRADAN, JSLPS, DRDA and MGNREGA support.
• Across Jharkhand, nearly 1.86 lakh acres were under BHGY orchards, with about 2.15 lakh rural households benefiting by 2026.
• By December 2025, production from BHGY orchards had increased sufficiently to prompt market linkage questions and active market access efforts.
• Some Jharkhand mango consignments have reached international markets, including England, Italy and the UAE.
• Farmers involved in BHGY began receiving support from field-level professionals like PRADAN and state-level livelihood teams to connect with organized buyers.