In an ambitious statement, India’s Union Ministry of Agriculture has announced it plans to double the country’s fruit and vegetable production by 2011/12, reported Alibaba.com.
A number of schemes to increase production have already been in place since 2005, according to KL Bhuria, minister of state for agriculture, resulting in an increase of 15 per cent and 8 per cent in fruit and vegetable production respectively in 2007/08.
The initiative is intended to increase India’s share of the global export market. The country produces 12 per cent and 13 per cent of the world’s fruits and vegetables respective, but only holds 1.38 per cent of the global market.
“India’s poor share in the global fruits and vegetables market is largely attributed to the poor handling and lack of post-harvest management, including shortage and cold chain, resulting in 10-30 per cent wastage,” explained Mr Bhuria.
India’s export of fresh fruit and vegetables is expected to hit US$535m this year, the report says.
Mr Bhuria’s comments echo sentiments that came out of the Fresh Produce India conference earlier this month.
The consensus among industry experts at the conference was that the biggest stumbling block to Indian exports was its fragmented and basic supply chain.
