Govt allocates Rs 150 billion for Horticulture Development

Jaipur, Jan 16 (UNI) In a bid to tap enormous export potentials in the horticulture sector the Manmohan Singh Government has heralded a Rs 150 billion strategic horticulture development programme.

The thrust in the programme will be on technologicial upgradation and associated institutional changes which are identified for future development of horticulture sector, along with its exports which are considered to be the most important for the growth of the sector.

India has emerged as one of the largest producers in horticulture sector globally and the World Bank has recognised us as second largest producer of fruits and vegetables, an official spokesman said here.

Quoting the recent World Bank reports the spokesman said that India produced nearly 11 per cent of vegetables and 15 per cent of fruits, yet its share in global export market was on meager 1.7 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

He said that nearly 35 per cent of the total horticulture produces perished or were wasted in the want of proper arrangments for storage, processing and/or preservation and producer to buyer effective links.

Horticulture sector has enormous export potentials and India has earned foreign exchange to the tune of Rs 600 to Rs 700 crore annually from flowers and floriculture exports alone, he added.

With a view to give a definite direction and fillup, International Horti Expo 2008 would be held in New Delhi between January 31 and February 2.

Participants, will include farmers, exporters and officials, from 23 countries and 15 states, who will participate in the exhibition which is rated as South Asia's largest international Horti meet, the spokesman added.

UNI SS PDT GC1915