J&K targets Rs 100cr vegetable export in FY08: Minister

Jammu, Jan 21 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir state aims to garner vegetable exports worth Rs 100 crore, up by 25 per cent from last year, in the next fiscal 2007-08 based on the growth registered by the sector during the past couple of years, a senior minister said here today.

''In vegetable sector, we have set Rs 100 crore export as our target for the next financial year (2007-08) as against exports worth Rs 80 crore during the current fiscal,'' Agriculture and Co-operative Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar told UNI.

Mr Zargar said there had been a significant increase in production of all agriculture crops, fruits and vegetable in the state during recent years.

During FY 2005-06, Jammu and Kashmir had exported vegetables worth Rs 70 crore.

The Minister also underlined the need to adopt a new paradigm of growth in the food-processing sector in the state. ''It is necessary keeping in view the resources potential of this state as a whole and the various factors in way of development industry, trade and commerce,'' he said.

Agriculture is the main stay of the economy of the state and more than 80 per cent of the total population derives its livelihood from this sector.

The state has a great potential for development in the agriculture sector with vast scope of selling up of food processing industries, he said.

Mr Zargar stressed for encouraging joint ventures and outsourcing between large corporate houses and industries for this sector in the state and exploring the possibility of providing direct marketing measures for the fruits and vegetable growers.

In order to benefit the growers, the government is planning to encourage retail chains to buy products directly from the farmers, which would help them in terms of packing, transporting and storage cost.

The state with its diverse macro-climatic conditions grows wide range of fruits, vegetables, cereals, aromatic and medicine plants.

On one hand the temperate climate of the valley is most conducive for production of temperate fruits while on the other hand the sub-tropical Jammu offers potential for growing of many sub-tropical crops.

UNI