INDIAN FLORICULTURE

Saturday, April 01, 2006  by Bosky Christopher

The five-day North-East Agri Exposition at Dimapur in Nagaland which concluded last week showcased a huge development potential in the north-east that is attracting some key investors in the untapped agriculture and floriculture sector.

The Centre has taken various initiatives to boost growth in agriculture, horticulture, processing and marketing of agricultural products in the north-east region. The government is also optimistic that the north-eastern states will carry out reforms as envisaged under the APMC Act, state laws for regulated agriculture markets.

The North-East Agri Expo 2006 was organised by the government of Nagaland with the support of the ministry of agriculture, the ministry of rural development and the ministry of north-east affairs involving all other seven states of the region to showcase new and innovative agro and food processing opportunities, improved agriculture practices, technologies and services for the benefit of the farmers, extension workers, agri-business entrepreneurs, scientists and academics.

It aims at projecting comparative advantages and potential of each of the north-eastern states in horticulture, agriculture, animal husbandry, livestock and agro-processing and thereby, inducing investments in agri-infrastructure in the north-east.

The key focus areas for agri-business in the north-east are high value horticulture crops, such as spices, fruits, medicinal and aromatic plants, organic cultivation, bamboo, rubber and other plantation crops, floriculture, selected agri-products, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries, food processing and viticulture and agriculture.

The agriculture ministry is implementing a centrally-sponsored technology mission on horticulture in all the north-eastern states with a Tenth Plan outlay of Rs 585 crore. Under two mini missions relating to the post-harvest management, marketing and processing, assistance is being provided for the development of infrastructure for establishing cold storages, refrigerated vans and for value addition through promotion of processing units.

Pawar calls for public-private partnership in NE

Minister of agriculture Sharad Pawar said horticulture and other areas of agriculture, livestock, poultry, food processing and financing agri business were the thrust areas which should be strengthened for the development of the North- Eastern region of the country. For this Pawar called for public-private partnership in all these areas.

Inaugurating the North-East Agri Expo 2006, Pawar said the Indian agricultural sector was moving from being supply driven to market driven.

According to the minister, the goal of achieving 4% growth in agriculture will require large investments in irrigation, post-harvest management, infrastructure, processing and value addition. Emphasis was also laid on making marginal lands cultivable. It has been assessed that investment to the tune of Rs 11,172 crore would be required for infrastructural development and agricultural marketing in the north-east.

To encourage private and corporate investment in the region, Pawar asked for the repeal of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act and said the Integrated Food Law for promoting food processing, the Warehouse Receipt Law and the Essential Commodities Act, retaining just a handful of commodities as essential, and the Forward Contract (Regulation) Act amendment would allow future trading in important agricultural commodities.

Minister of state for food processing Subodh Kant Sahai said a sum of Rs 4,000 crore would be invested for setting up infrastructure in food and vegetation sector. Emphasis was also laid on developing meat processing, as there is a potential market for it in the region.

Horticulture takes center stage at Expo

Horticulture has a huge development potential in the north-east that is attracting some key investors. With the present global market of over $60 billion, development of the sector is expected to bring prosperity to the region.

Union horticulture commissioner M L Choudhary said, "The horticulture sector which registered 7.2% growth last year is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. While the national average growth is 7.2%, the north-east has seen a growth of 8-9%." According to him, the region has much greater growth potential, but due to small land holdings, averaging 0.2 hectare, and huge post-harvest wastages (to the tune of 30-40%) due to unavailability of processing plants, the region is not able to tap its market potential.

"The first step should be to identify production zone clusters, with each cluster producing one specific crop. Each state has its own special crop - Meghalaya can produce strawberry, Manipur passion fruit, Arunachal Pradesh kiwi, Nagaland orange, etc. Once the states identify the clusters, production estimates can be made and investment brought to the region. Horticulture can provide maximum employment in the north-east," Choudhary said.

Though the exhibition attracted more than 50 potential investors, including ITC, ICCOA, HDFC, Dabur, etc, it could not attract any major investments. Rinchin Norbu from the Arunachal Pradesh horticulture department said because the state did not have any Land Act, the corporates were not able to buy land.

Despite the fact that the state government is ready to lease land, investments are not coming in. An official from the Sikkim horticulture department also complained that though there was a huge demand for their pineapple products, they had no provision to supply it to major markets.

North-east holds promise for fruits and flowers

Floriculture is gradually becoming an integral part of the rural economy even in remote corners of the north-east. Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), the central agency, has taken the initiative of motivating growers in the region to take up cultivation of some exotic flowers suitable to agro-climatic conditions there. "The process is gradually picking up, particularly among women," says Mavneesh Sharma, head of APEDA's floriculture division. "Despite odds, we are building a linkage for facilitating exports."

The organic nature of agriculture in north-east India augurs well with the growing market demand. The region also grows some distinct plant varieties like passion fruits, tree tomato and some Japonica varieties of rice.

According to Manik Sarkar, chief minister, Tripura, "To encourage value addition in the agricultural sector, we have formulated a perspective plan for 10 years. This plan envisages self-reliance among the farmers, by focusing singularly on our agricultural sector and simultaneously reducing the dependence for agricultural commodities from other states. We are going a big way in bolstering our dairy produce and poultry farming."

Horticulture is the main focus area in Arunachal Pradesh. It grows oranges, apples and, kiwi, a new fruit, in large quantities. Tsering Gyurme, minister of agriculture, Arunchal Pradesh said, "The Centre has helped us by allocating money to improve infrastructure. Yet, we have a problem of travel and transportation from farms to the production centre. So the state government will build more roads connecting roads to towns. We are trying to expand the market for our fruits. We are trying to set up industries for jams, jellies, ice creams, wine and juices."

For Meghalaya, the key focus areas are ginger and turmeric production. One-third of the north-east's produce of ginger comes from Meghalaya. DD Lapang, CM, Meghalaya said, "Fortunately, the demand for our turmeric has increased manifold over the years. We are also into horticulture in a big way. There is an ever-growing demand for flowers in our state. Also, a lot of stress is being laid on hybrid seeds for good quality produce."

Traditionally, Mizoram has followed the shifting agriculture practice. Now it is trying to move towards permanent agriculture practices. "We are trying to persuade farmers to follow the permanent agriculture practice. We are planning to set up more heavy-capacity cold storages. We will also concentrate towards growing more organic food stuff," said H Rammawia, minister of agriculture, Mizoram.

North-East Agri Expo focuses on untapped resources

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