Investment to fund cultivation of exotic fruit such as kiwifruit in Arunachal Pradesh
IG International subsidiary IG Fresh Produce has announced plans to invest Rs100 crores (US$12.5m) into the production of exotic fruits such as kiwifruit and stonefruit in Arunachal Pradesh.
The investment will span five years as part of an agreement with the Arunachal Pradesh Agricultural Marketing Board (APAMB) and the farmers of Namshu village in West Kameng district.
Gautam Jha, president of IG Fresh Produce, said the project would approach cultivation, research and development, and post-harvest activities in a phased manner and boost the production and sale/export of kiwifruit from the region.
“Arunachal Pradesh is a state which has the blessing of nature’s bounty in abundance. The region is full of friendly people and farmers who are adept at growing and nurturing their produce in the best possible manner,” said Jha.
“We at IG Fresh Produce are very confident in creating a natural lab for the cultivation, careful curation, research and development, and post-harvest treatment of the first-grade produce done in the orchid paradise of India.”
The project is set to generate employment for 500 youths across five years. Arunachal Pradesh’s agriculture minister Tage Taki, said it would provide a great boost to the region.
“This is a very big investment, not only in terms of the financial value but also in the context of the trust shown towards Arunachal and its farmers, for which I thank IG Fresh Produce, APAMB and the Invest India team,” said Taki.
“This project has the potential to make India into an independent nation when it comes to feeding top-notch kiwifruit to its fruit-loving population. The state government will provide everything the farmers and IG Fresh Produce need to grow the best and most delicious fruits in our country.”
