Kalaburagi, (Karnataka) May 9 : Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Kalaburagi district in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday said it was a matter of pride that the local dish, â??Kalaburagi rottiâ??, prepared locally by women from self-help groups, is now being exported to foreign countries.

Speaking at a programme held at the Arivina Mane auditorium in Kalaburagi city, Kharge flagged off consignments of packaged rotis prepared for export to Australia, the United States, and Canada. The packages were handed over to postal department officials for overseas dispatch through India Post.

Kharge said that nearly one-and-a-half years ago, the â??Kalaburagi Rottiâ?? brand was launched, under which around 1,000 women from 100 self-help groups are engaged in preparing the traditional jowar rotis.

He said arrangements had now been made to export the rotis to the United States, Canada, and Australia through a Pune-based export company, calling it a proud achievement for Kalaburagi.

The Minister also flagged off specially prepared export packs that will be shipped abroad through India Post.

According to officials, arrangements have been made to export 10,000 Kalaburagi jowar rotis every month, each to the United States and Australia, while 5,000 rotis will be sent to Canada. The export numbers are expected to increase further in the coming days.

Officials said â??Kalaburagi Rottiâ?? is currently being sold through Amazon, the Kalaburagi Rotti website, franchise outlets, and local markets across the country.

More than 100 self-help groups and over 1,000 women are benefiting from the Kalaburagi Rotti brand initiative. Women engaged in rotti production are reportedly earning between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per month, with additional income generated during weddings and other events.

The district administration has held discussions with Pune-based Ashtam Traders to facilitate exports to Australia, Canada, and the United States. In the first phase, one lakh rotis are proposed to be exported annually to Australia and the US, with monthly exports expected to range between 10,000 and 25,000 rotis.

Officials said an agreement has already been prepared between the district administration and the exporter.

The initiative is expected to significantly increase the income of women producers. While a rotti currently sells in the domestic market for around Rs 10 to Rs 12, export sales are expected to fetch Rs 25 to Rs 30 per rotti abroad, potentially increasing earnings by 80 to 100 per cent.

To support exports, HDFC Bank has provided Rs 55 lakh under its CSR initiative for the purchase of vacuum packing machinery. Basic infrastructure for the unit is being developed at the District Agricultural Training Centre at Kotnoor-D in Kalaburagi under the DMF scheme at a cost of Rs 32 lakh.

Kharge said the new packaging unit would improve both export prospects and the quality of Kalaburagi Rotti. The packaging machinery facility is expected to be inaugurated in the coming days.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharanamma Patil, a member of the rotti makersâ?? association, thanked the district administration for supporting the women involved in the initiative.

Kharge also announced that a newly constructed mini zoo and childrenâ??s park spread across 6.33 acres near Mudbul village in Chittapur taluk would soon be opened to the public.

He said approval for establishing the zoo had been obtained from the Central Zoo Authority under Section 38(1) of the Wildlife Protection Act.

/IANS