28-Jun-2013
SURAT: About 30 per cent of horticulture produce of south Gujarat goes waste and the region is only able to process three per cent of its total output. This is because there are not enough cold chains in south Gujarat. In advanced countries, about 70 per cent of their horticulture produce is immediately processed as per an estimate.
South Gujarat produces more than Rs 2,500 crore worth of horticulture and floriculture produce in a year. These have high demand abroad. However, the region is losing out on export revenue because of its inability to export them for lack of infrastructure. "We need infrastructure to reap the benefits from the production of these perishable items," dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agriculture University, Dr N L Patel said. A horticulture and floriculture expert in Navsari Vinod Desai, who assists about 300 farmers in the region, said, "We need agro-based infrastructure. This would boost the economy of the region."
The Agriculture and Processed Food Product Development Authority ( APEDA) along with Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Surat, held a seminar last week here to explore the possibility of setting up agro-based infrastructure to boost the export of agro products from the region.
APMC chairman Raman Jani said, "APEDA already has given subsidies to four institutions for running cold chains in central and south Gujarat. This is just the beginning." Gujarat has a strong cooperative movement. However, there is no cooperative in cold chain. "A cold chain by cooperative is a good idea. This can help in export of fruits like mango which have huge demand across the country and the world. The fruits can be stored in cold chain for at least 6 months. This would be beneficial to both the farmers and consumers," a said mango farmer from Gandevi taluka Rajesh Nayak said.
Source:-timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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