THE government in India is mulling over whether to provide subsidies to help farmers' agriculture produce reach markets overseas via sea routes in a bid to help the nation's goods 'sustain' in foreign markets, according to Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya. Up until now the government only provided subsidies for goods sent by air freight.
The minister further revealed that the government plans to build a special jetty in all the major ports to improve the movement of fruits and vegetables from India's ports, reported New Delhi's Indian Express.
'There are nine nations in the Gulf (Middle East). They do not have fruits or vegetables. All they have is oil and money. These are currently being supplied by Europe and African countries. We can send our cargo to the markets in the Gulf by the sea route in just three days from Mundra, Kandla and Pipavav ports,' Mr Mandaviya told the Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd (Gujcomasol).
'The farmers cannot send this fruit and veg directly but farmers' cooperative bodies like Gujcomasol can. I have studied the Dubai market. We should open a consultancy office overseas who can tell us about the local demand and the same can be exported,' he said at the federation's annual general meeting.
'This will help prevent situations where the farmer has to sell cabbage at INR2 (US$0.03) per kilogramme. It will help farmers get better remuneration,' Mr Mandaviya said, adding that farmers cooperatives in Maharashtra has already opened similar offices in the Middle East.
The minister further revealed that the government plans to build a special jetty in all the major ports to improve the movement of fruits and vegetables from India's ports, reported New Delhi's Indian Express.
'There are nine nations in the Gulf (Middle East). They do not have fruits or vegetables. All they have is oil and money. These are currently being supplied by Europe and African countries. We can send our cargo to the markets in the Gulf by the sea route in just three days from Mundra, Kandla and Pipavav ports,' Mr Mandaviya told the Gujarat State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd (Gujcomasol).
'The farmers cannot send this fruit and veg directly but farmers' cooperative bodies like Gujcomasol can. I have studied the Dubai market. We should open a consultancy office overseas who can tell us about the local demand and the same can be exported,' he said at the federation's annual general meeting.
'This will help prevent situations where the farmer has to sell cabbage at INR2 (US$0.03) per kilogramme. It will help farmers get better remuneration,' Mr Mandaviya said, adding that farmers cooperatives in Maharashtra has already opened similar offices in the Middle East.