The Hindu Business Line : Nod for developing high-yielding guarseed

Optimising efforts
Assistance under Govt’s Market Access Initiative scheme.
Expected export turnover for 2007-08 at Rs 1,129.56 cr.
Strategic objective of project is to maximise arid land utilisation.

Mohan Padmanabhan

Kolkata, Jan. 7 The R&D project proposed by Shellac & Forest Products EPC (Shefexil) for development of high-yielding quality seed for enhancing India’s guar gum exports, for assistance under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme of the Centre, has been cleared at a recent meeting chaired by the Commerce Secretary, Mr G.K. Pillai.

The project will be implemented with technical assistance from CCS Haryana Agricultural College, Hisar.

The three main issues facing the guar gum industry in India today are said to be inadequate crop size, fluctuating yield per hectare, and sub-optimal guar cultivation in non-productive arid regions. Indian guar gum is exported to nearly 65 countries, and the export turnover during 2006-07 was Rs 1,125.79 crore. The estimated figure for 2007-08 is Rs 1,129.56 crore.

As per the proposals put forward by the council, the total cost of the project, scheduled for completion in the next three years, was Rs 98.85 lakhs. The total MAI assistance sought is for Rs 59.38 lakhs, with the balance coming from the industry. The R&D project is felt essential to lift Indian guar exports in a big way, as it is now shackled by low yield and low quality.

Activities proposed

The activities proposed to be taken up under the project are production and distribution of quality guar seed, development of extra early maturing varieties, identification of QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) for drought and disease resistance/tolerance and training of farmers for quality seed production.

Describing guar as a drought-tolerant legume crop grown in the arid zones of the country, such as Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat, Mr G.L. Sarda, a leading Jodhpur-based exporter, said the agri commodity enjoyed myriad applications, particularly in the foods and pharmaceuticals sectors.

He said it was essential to increase guar exports by 50 per cent in the next 5 years by increasing availability of raw material, and also provide incremental income and employment in rural and backward areas.

A strategic objective of the R&D project is to maximise arid land utilisation by bringing these under guar cultivation.

Production needs

According to the council’s projections, guar gum exports show an average annual growth of around 10 per cent, and in the next 5 years, if this trend is maintained, some 3.30 lakh tonnes of production would be required.

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Nod for developing high-yielding guarseed