• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• Business Line
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Efforts on to get market access for basmati rice

Hyderabad , April 23

Indian farmers can now tap the Chinese market for exporting mangoes, grapes and bitter gourd.

The Union Ministry of Agriculture has signed the crucial Protocol agreements with China, according to Mr A.K. Gupta, Advisor (WTO) of Apeda (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority).

Delivering the keynote address at the national seminar on `Agri and processed food export - emerging trends' here, he said efforts were on to secure market access for basmati rice in China; mangoes in Australia, Japan and the US; Russia for bovine meat and poultry products and Thailand for bovine meat.

The seminar was organised by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) and Apeda.

Apeda efforts

Listing Apeda's efforts to increase agri and processed food exports, he cited moves like setting up a market facilitation centre in the Netherlands and taking up promotional campaigns in Europe, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Kuwait and the UAE in the last few seasons.

Speaking on the potential, he said there were huge opportunities for cut flowers, fresh foliage, dried flowers, plant parts, mushrooms dehydrated onions, potato, gherkins, buffalo meat and poultry products like egg powder. Referring to residue monitoring plans, he said there was a proposal to set up a facility to monitor pesticide residues in pomegranates. Mr Gupta underscored the need for developing common Indian brands and aggressive marketing campaigns to trigger exports.

AP accreditation agency

The Andhra Pradesh Government is planning to set up an accreditation agency in the State to help farmers, who go for organic farming, the tag that would give them the edge in the market place and earn more income.

Speaking at the seminar, Ms Poonam Malakondaiah, Commissioner for Agriculture (Govt of AP), said though there were seven such agencies in the country, none of them was located in the State.

She also called for setting up testing laboratories that offered affordable solutions.

Educating farmers

In order to increase the competitiveness of the farmers, the Government was planning to launch a massive campaign in the State, educating farmers on the importance of standards.

The farmers also need to be informed of the advantages in using less fertilisers and pesticides.

Issues related to chemical residues had been hampering the prospects of Indian farmers.

"We need to tell them the importance of maintaining standards right from the production stage itself. We need to focus on our competitiveness before setting our eyes on exports," he said.

"We are a huge market for a huge range of products. Before some one else comes dominate it, why not we tap this opportunity ourselves. Defending our own products domestically is as important as focussing on exports," she said.

More Stories on : Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Exports & Imports | Events

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Gold volatility: Caution required

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line