IANS | 18 Jul, 2022
here
is a significant potential for boosting exports of fruits and
vegetables from Vidarbha region of Maharastra, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Monday.
“In
order to achieve higher exports, farmers have to adopt latest
technology in agriculture and they have to be open to new research
findings and adopting innovative farming practices as has been done in
the grape-growing areas of Nashik in Maharashtra,” Gadkari said at an
outreach programme on “Export Potential for Agri Crops, Fruits &
Vegetables” in Amravati, Maharashtra.
The
programme for boosting exports of citrus fruits and vegetables was
organized by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority) – an organization under Department of Commerce,
in association with Agrovision.
Stating
that GI tagged Nagpur orange is grown in more than 70,000 hectares in
Amravati Region, Gadkari said there is huge potential for export of
Nagpur Oranges and other citrus fruits from the Region. Since Nagpur
Orange is a GI product, it can also be sold at a premium, he pointed
out.
However, he also urged the scientists that R&D needs to be done
for this sector in terms of increasing the yield, varietal improvement
and value addition.
Gadkari
stated that while exports of Indian mandarin have doubled in the last
two years, manifold increase in the exports can be achieved only through
required R&D and value addition. The minister appreciated the
efforts of APEDA in terms of capacity building of the stakeholders,
required infrastructure development, quality up-gradation and promotions
abroad.
He urged APEDA to organize more capacity building programmes
for the stakeholders for getting the required information and
knowledge.
Exports
of citrus fruits from India in 2019-20 stood at Rs329.32 crore and
reached Rs 590.4 crore in 2020-21. The main markets were Bangladesh,
Nepal, UAE and Bhutan, among others.
Gadkari
emphasized on the right selection of planting material for GI tagged
Nagpur Orange when targeting the export market and called for concerted
focus to grow organic produce.
The minister also exhorted farmers and
exporters to comply with the norms of importing countries in packaging
and to increase farm the productivity without compromising on the
quality parameters in food safety aspects so as to ensure better
realization for their produce.
He also mentioned that use of drone
technology for spraying of agrochemicals can reduce farm losses up to
70% when compared to current agronomical practices. Similarly, use of
good packaging material also helps to minimize the post-export handling
issues, Gadkari noted.
APEDA
signed an MoU with Agrovision, which will facilitate and become an
extended arm of APEDA in conducting capacity building programmes for the
entrepreneurs, FPCs, FPOs and other stakeholders.
The
programme was attended by a large number of FPOs, FPCs, Entrepreneurs,
Startups, Young Buddy Entrepreneurs, State Government Officials, NGOs,
Cooperatives and Technical Scientists. In the Technical Session,
information was shared on norms for quality improvement, importing
country protocols, new technical development, etc.