Horticulturists may get subsidy for replanting
The APEDA) proposed replanting programme for the floriculture sector could be brought under the ambit of the National Horticulture Mission (NHM).
By TNN |
BANGALORE: The Agricultural & Processed Food Product Export Development Authority’s (APEDA) proposed replanting programme for the floriculture sector could be brought under the ambit of the National Horticulture Mission (NHM), according to a senior official of APEDA. This will enable the authority to extend a small amount of subsidy to the growers.
The replanting programme is imperative as most of the export-oriented farms have planting material that is more than 10 years old. Acreage under organised floriculture has risen from 53,000 hectares in 1993-94 to 1.16 lakh hectares in 2004-05.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the roadshow for “Florex India-2007”, APEDA deputy general manager Navneesh Sharma said the plan was to provide a small component of subsidy to growers for the replanting programme.
Mr Sharma said, there were plans to even operate a crop insurance scheme for the floriculture sector. Speaking about Florex India-2007, Mr Sharma said, the aim was to project the floriculture prowess of the country to international buyers.
“We are seeking more markets for our produce and this is an effort in this direction. The first edition of this exhibition was held in Bangalore in 2005 followed by New Delhi in 2006 and this year it is in Pune,” he said.
It is also believed that an official from the Japanese agriculture department will visit India to study the domestic floriculture sector. “Japan is a major market being serviced by India.
Sudhakar Rao, additional chief secretary and development commissioner of Karnataka, noted that the floriculture sector was a key sector for the state. “Our attempt at setting up the international auction centre in Bangalore is to position the city as a major trading point for flowers,” he said.
The replanting programme is imperative as most of the export-oriented farms have planting material that is more than 10 years old. Acreage under organised floriculture has risen from 53,000 hectares in 1993-94 to 1.16 lakh hectares in 2004-05.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the roadshow for “Florex India-2007”, APEDA deputy general manager Navneesh Sharma said the plan was to provide a small component of subsidy to growers for the replanting programme.
Mr Sharma said, there were plans to even operate a crop insurance scheme for the floriculture sector. Speaking about Florex India-2007, Mr Sharma said, the aim was to project the floriculture prowess of the country to international buyers.
“We are seeking more markets for our produce and this is an effort in this direction. The first edition of this exhibition was held in Bangalore in 2005 followed by New Delhi in 2006 and this year it is in Pune,” he said.
It is also believed that an official from the Japanese agriculture department will visit India to study the domestic floriculture sector. “Japan is a major market being serviced by India.
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The visit will provide first-hand information about the sector to the Japanese government and the quality norms to followed while exporting to Japan,” Mr Sharma added.Sudhakar Rao, additional chief secretary and development commissioner of Karnataka, noted that the floriculture sector was a key sector for the state. “Our attempt at setting up the international auction centre in Bangalore is to position the city as a major trading point for flowers,” he said.
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