TN plans Agri Export Zone for bananas in Trichy

Chennai, Apr 3 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government proposes to establish an Agri-Export Zone exclusively for banana in Tiruchirapalli district at a cost of Rs ten crore, state Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam told the Assembly today.

Replying to a debate on the demand for grants for his department, he said five collection centres with a capacity of 85 metric ton, one godown of 500 MT capacity and controlled atmospheric chamber of 1,000 MT capacity would be established in the zone through private participation.

Besides, two grading centres with a grading capacity of 500 MT per day and a processing centre of 15,000 MT a day would also be established with private participation, he added.

The necessary proposal had been sent to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) Steering Committee for approval, the minister said.

The proposal for an Agri-Export Zone for cashew in Cuddalore district at a project cost of Rs 17 crore had been approved and an MoU signed with APEDA, Mr Arumugam added.

It would be established through private promoter participation.

An Agri-Export Zone for flowers was being established at Udhagamandalam with participation by a private promoter at a cost of Rs 15.89 crore.

Infrastructure facilities like auction centre, mother plant nursery, model farm, pre-cooling, cold storage, reffer vans, hi-tech training centre and common marketing facility would be provided in the zone, he added.

UNI