The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Government urged to provide policy support for agri-marketing

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Government urged to provide policy support for agri-marketing

Special Correspondent

Key to a better market share is to improve logistics: Scindia

— Photo: R. Ragu

PROMOTING AGRO EXPORTS: (From right) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce, A. Sakthivel, president and regional chairman, FIEO, Veerapandi S. Arumugam, Agriculture Minister, and K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Agriculture, at a seminar in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The Federation of Indian Export Organisations on Wednesday said that the near-zero availability of cold storages, refrigerated vans, cargoes and good roads proved a major handicap in promoting horticulture growth and the Indian agri-marketing system.

Speaking at a seminar on promoting agro exports, FIEO president and chairman A.Sakthivel said that according to an estimate, Rs.65,000 crore was required for the development of agriculture marketing infrastructure in India.

“Regarding marketing, it needs to be encouraged with policy support by the government and the private sector to help farmers through proper regulated market development…Indian agricultural sector now must be managed like any other economic activity. Market-dictated agricultural crops and agricultural development strategies must be the future of farmer’s prosperity,” he said.

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jyotiraditya Scindia said India had the strength to transform itself to become the halal/organic/vegetable/sea-food hub for the world. The key to a better market share was to improve logistics and introduce state-of-the-art management techniques. India needed to adopt the best practices followed in the developed nations after adapting these to Indian conditions, he added.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture K.V.Thomas said to promote exports, emphasis should be on growing infrastructure, application of technology during all stages of growing of produce, harvest and post-harvest to transfer the produce of high quality to the consumer. While fragmentation of farm holdings was an issue that confronted populous nations, developments such as contract farming helped in addressing the issue. Exporters need to move from bulk and commodity exports to retail packaging through value addition.

He emphasised the need for the Central and State governments, farmers and industry to work together to promote agriculture as an industry.

Exim Bank Chairman and Managing Director T.C.Venkat Subramanian, said productivity issues would have to be addressed before India could be competitive in the world market.

Citing the instance of the banana trade, he said of the total area of banana cultivation in the world, India accounted for 12 per cent.

But with a yield that was much lower than most countries, India stood 31st in the countries that exported bananas – and accounted for 0.05 per cent of the total world exports.

He was quick to point out that Latin American countries, the leading exporters were helped by the fact that they were geographically closer to the world’s biggest markets, Europe and the United States.

State Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugham presided.

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