Jairam expresses need to establish 'Mint Park' in UP

Lucknow, Oct 9 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh today said there is a strong need for establishing a 'Mint Park' in Uttar Pradesh to give emphasis on quality production and value added export of mint from the state.

Mr Ramesh was addressing the Interface on Mint-2007, organised here jointly by Spices Board, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Essential Oil Association of India (EOAI) and State Horticulture Department.

He said the Spices Board, CIMAP and State Government may jointly explore the possibility of setting up the Mint Park in about 100 acre area, especially in a mint growing UP district.

Private sector participation would add more teeth to the proposed park, the Union Minister observed.

The Minister also announced establishment of testing laboratories at five places in UP, comprising Chandausi, Rampur, Bareilly, Sambhal and Barabanki to facilitate the farmers and entrepreneurs in quality evaluation of their mint oil before marketing.

Adequate assistance from the Spices Board, in the form of subsidy, to enable the farmers to procure and install improved field distillation units was developed by CIMAP, he further assured.

Mr Ramesh also suggested the various organisation present create a Brand 'India Mint' in the world market.

He said ''as per the feedback received from the farmers, the future trading appeared to be beneficial for them. However, necessary efforts will be required to strengthen the warehousing facility in the mint growing and processing areas.'' MORE UNI