CHENNAI: A team of experts from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Quality Forum on Tuesday met Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy and other officials of the agriculture and agriculture business and marketing departments to discuss promotion of EurepGAP standards.

According to a release from P.Murari, adviser to the president, FICCI, the Quality Forum team had undertaken a pilot project to promote good agriculture practices, based on EurepGAP standards, focusing on the grape and mango belts of Maharashtra. The project was a success with over 200 grape and mango orchards managing to be certified against European standards. The farmers, thus certified, were able to get higher prices for their products from exporters.

As a follow-up, the FICCI took up a major project to promote EurepGAP standards in 10 States, including Tamil Nadu, with funding from the Norwegian government. Farmers in the 10 States would be trained, as would agriculture officers in the State. One hundred farms would be selected for comprehensive technical assistance for implementing EurepGAP standards, leading to their certification by international bodies. In turn, these farms could be used as role models for promoting the concepts in other farms, Mr. Murari said.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary had appointed the Agricultural Marketing and Agri Business department as the nodal agency to coordinate the project in the State along with the FICCI.

In the first phase, it has been proposed to take up projects in Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchi and Krishnagiri for certification of fruits such as bananas, citrus fruits, grapes, mangoes, fresh vegetables and flowers.

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