The Hindu Business Line : `Cold chain infrastructure vital for agro exports'

New Delhi May 1 Cold chain infrastructure remains the missing link in the process of agriculture, post-harvest storage and transportation in India, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, has said.

Giving away the award instituted by Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) here, the Minister highlighted the need for infusion of new technology and capital in agriculture to enable the country to harness the untapped potential in agro exports.

He said supply chain from production clusters to the markets ought to be beefed up including grading, pre-cooling, packaging, storage and marketing of fresh farm produce.

Stating that the organised retail both in fresh and processed food products which has begun taking shape in the metros and other large cities must be extended to other small towns as well, he said that foreign direct investment by leading global players for strengthening the backward linkages and infrastructure, including cold chain, could provide a boost to processing and help in reducing waste of fruits and vegetables.

This would ensure better returns to the farmers for their produce, Mr Nath said.

Indian mangoes

Mr Nath has called the market access made available to Indian mangoes recently by the US and Japan as a major breakthrough that augurs well for Indian agro product exports.

He hoped that Indian mangoes would gain popularity over the South American and Mexican varieties currently available in the US market on account of better taste, aroma and flavour.

Agro exports constitute about 9.3 per cent of the total merchandise exports of the country. Total agro exports through APEDA in 2005-06 were Rs 17,918 crore against Rs 16,828 crore in 2004-05.

Mr Nath gave away the golden trophy to Allanasons Ltd, Mumbai and awarded the silver and bronze trophies and certificates of merit to other exporters.

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