VFPC targets Rs 80 lakh resource generation through exports

Kochi, Apr 1 (UNI) The Vegetable and Fruits Promotion Council (VFPC) of Kerala is stepping up efforts to cater to the large export market for ethnic Kerala vegetables and fruits, especially in the Gulf countries, Council Chairman A K Thekkan said here.

Addressing a press conference last evening, Mr Thekkan said the Council, an autonomous body under the state government, was targeting resource generation of Rs 80 lakh through exports this year.

There was steady demand for fruits and vegetables from Kerala from the large non-resident Keralite community in the Gulf but the state was not able to meet it due to technical and administrative constraints, he said.

Stating the Council was taking steps to overcome the impediments, Council Finance Director C N Pradeep said training programmes had been started under its auspices to teach farmers good harvest and transportation practices to maintain quality of goods exported.

As the export market was very quality-conscious, even the slightest flaw in a consignment led to rejection, he added.

The Council exported 1,090 tonne of vegetables and bananas to the Gulf countries last year, Mr Thekkan said, adding, it was setting up cold storage and ripening facilities, which would be ready this year.

Stating there was good demand for organically grown fruits and vegetables, he said not many farmers were coming forward for this.

Mr Thekkan said due to good rains, production of fruits and vegetables was very good in Kerala last year. Besides export promotion, the Council was also encouraging value addition.

It had started a unit to make banana chips, for which there was good demand in the Gulf and in India -- Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The Council, which was active in all 14 districts of the state, had facilitated formation of 4,500 self-help groups consisting of 83,000 farmers across the state. It had also provided infrastructure for 180 wholesale markets where farmers could directly sell produce to the people, eliminating middlemen.

The Council was organising a three-day 'Fruit and Vegetable Mega Show' here from April three, where several ethnic varieties of fruits and vegetables, besides 32 varieties from abroad, would be displayed. Special attractions would be native mango and banana varieties, several of which were fast disappearing from public memory.

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