Horticulture export reached Rs 9,000 cr in FY'12: Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Export of horticulture products jumped to Rs 9,000 crore mark in 2011-12 from just Rs 150 crore in 1991-92, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said today.

Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry, Pawar said horticulture sector will see a double-digit growth rate during the 12th plan period (2012-17).

"The Minister said the enhanced production of fruit and vegetable in the country has increased the per capita availability of these items. The earning from the export of horticulture produce has increased from the level of Rs 150 crore in 1991-92 to Rs 9,000 crore in 2011-12," an official statement said.

The country has emerged as a leader in the production of mango, banana, guava, papaya and okra.

The minister expressed hope that horticulture sector will see a double-digit growth rate during the 12th plan period.

"Horticulture mission for North-East and Himalayan states (HMNEH) has helped in increasing the production of fruits and vegetables in HMNEH states from 10.1 million tonnes in 2001-02 to 16.5 million tonnes in 2012-13," the statement said.

An evaluation study on performance of HMNEH activities was conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad during 2012-13 which indicated a positive impact of HMNEH on horticulture growth in the country, it added.

The Minister said cultivation of horticultural crops results in high returns per unit of land and better employment opportunities, and is a potential source of foreign exchange.

Horticulture also enables optimum utilization of land resources in an eco-friendly manner.

The HMNEH scheme envisages an end to end approach covering a variety of intervention involving production and productivity enhancement, post-harvest management, and marketing and processing.

The mission is being implemented in all the districts of North-East and Himalayan States.