The State Horticulture Mission on Friday organised a one-day seminar to discuss possibilities of export of vegetables and flowers and potential markets for horticulture crops produced in Jharkhand. The seminar also focused on supply chain and stressed upon increasing number of cold storages to encourage exports from the State. The seminar was inaugurated by Secretary Vishnu Kumar.
The seminar was jointly organised by Organic Farming Authority of Jharkhand, Authority for Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development and Union Ministry of Commerce & Industries. The department of Agriculture stressed upon equipping farmers with information needed to produce farms products that can stand in national as well as international market.
“Government is doing to everything to encourage farming activities in Jharkhand. And, in this endeavour we will ensure training to farmers as there is a tremendous opportunity in horticulture,” said Secretary Agriculture Vishnu Kumar.
But the export capabilities of horticulture produces are severely affected due to lack of infrastructures such as cold storages, absence of a dedicated facility—’centre for perishable cargo’—at Airports that are needed to prevent decaying of farm produce of perishable nature. Cold storages have been a neglected aspect of the agriculture supply chain which is needed not only for maintaining the freshness of product with relatively smaller life cycle but also an important component that provides buffer against sudden price rise.
“We lack sufficient number of cold storages. If cold storages are encouraged then it will help in dealing with sudden rise in prices of vegetables,” said Director State Horticulture Mission, Prabhakar Singh.
The seminar discussed potential and development of horticulture produce in State, exploring the possibility of exporting farm and processed farm products from Kolkata and Delhi, export linkages.