Agro export targetted to grow by 20 per cent

Bangalore, Apr 15 (UNI) Agro product exports from India is likely to grow at 20 per cent during the current fiscal as against over 100 Billion dollar exports achieved in 2005-06 according to Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

FIEO Agro products exports Committee Convenor Walter D'Souza told UNI that though the target the Union Commerce Ministry had set a 20 per cent increase it would be diffcult to create an additional employment opportunity of two million due to lack of necessary infrastrucutre.

''For export of every Rs one crore the employment generation expected was 20. But in the case of Agro products it will be more than 100, mostly women'' he said adding that to achieve the target there should be a 25 to 30 per cent growth in employment generation.

This was unlikely to be achieved, he added stating that FIEO was taking necessary steps to increase employment generation.

Replying to a question, he said that European countries and USA were the main market for Indian Agro Products. But tehse markets were reaching a saturation level there was need to target Countries in the Asian region, with the disposable income growing.

The potential was more for exports to neighbouring countries, especially Pakistan through which market has to be driven to enter south asian countries".

"Among the developing countries the Far East countries like Thailand and Vietnam are doing well and vienam pose a major threat to India, especially in cash crops such as Coffee due to high productivity and low cost'' he said adding that there was need to increase the productivity in India.

Mr D'Souza said that India is the second largest producer of food products next to China. "The total food production in India is likely to double in the next 10 years and there is an opportunity for large investments in food and food processing technologies" he added.

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