Sharad Pawar addressing the National Horticulture Conference on production, in New Delhi on Friday.

SME Times News Bureau | 18 Feb, 2012
India earned foreign exchange worth Rs14,000 crore from export of horticulture products amidst record production of 240 million tones in 2011-12, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said Friday.

Addressing the National Conference on Horticulture Production and Productivity in New Delhi Pawar said that increase in production has resulted in higher per capita availability of fruits and vegetables, besides substantial increase in its exports, which has helped the country to earn foreign exchange to the tune of Rs. 14,000 crore.

He complimented farmers and all those associated with the development of horticulture in the country for achieving an all time record production of over 240 million tonne of horticulture produce.

Pawar also announced the formal launch of 2012 as the ''Year of Horticulture'' to bring horticulture development in the country to centre stage.

While we have achieved considerable success on the production front, the supply chain issues still need to be addressed, he said.

The 'Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters', with an outlay of Rs300 crore is an important step in this direction. To start with, the scheme is being implemented with focus on sustained supply of good quality vegetables to urban centres having a population of one million and above. The scheme lays special emphasis on promoting protected cultivation of vegetables in green houses and shade-net houses for enhancing its productivity.

On Centre's decision to set up National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) the minister said, “This will go a long way in addressing the issues relating to the gaps in cold chain infrastructure in the country. While the Government of India would be infusing funds to the tune of Rs. 25 crore, much of the investments will have to come from the Industry.