National Horticulture Conference NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi November 13 14, 2006

1. National Horticulture ConferenceNASC Complex, Pusa, New DelhiNovember 13 – 14, 2006

4. Floriculture : USA, UK, Netherlands, Japan, German Fruits & Vegetable : USA, Bangladesh, Seeds Pakistan, China, Japan

7. Constraints Affecting Export Performance Supply side issues Inconsistency in quality due to small and fragmented production Domestic prices higher than international prices

8. Factors Eroding Benefit of Low Cost Production High transaction cost due to inefficient and insufficient infrastructure High sea and air freights Lack of market information

9. Non Tariff Barriers MRLs of pesticides, antibiotics, drugs Delays in equivalence Lack of harmonisation with Codex Impractical approach to product testing Issues like traceability, environment and labour

10. Measures and Action Plan

11. To improve the competitiveness Market orientation of production Commercial interface of research Multi modal transportation Simplification of procedures

12. Protocols for Pre and Post Harvest Management Standardized protocols are essential which should be harmonized with international standards Export standards finalised for 32 fruits and vegetables by APEDA for notification under AGMARK Act

13. Pest and Disease Management Issues Institutional mechanism for creation of database on the situation of pests and diseases in major production areas of production for export Identification of pest/disease free areas

14. Pack Houses More pack houses need to be created for common use Already created by APEDA: for Mangoes and other fruits at Saharanpur, Lucknow, Malda, Fatehabad, Jalna, Vashi, Ratnagiri & Sindhudurg (8) for Onions at – Indapur for Pomegranate in Baramati for Ginger in Assam

17. Strengthening of Laboratory Infrastructure All laboratories under AGMARK should be strengthened to be at international standards including accreditation Laboratory recognition and upgradation by APEDA – 6 each in public and private sectors

18. IndiaGAP Draft for National Programme for Good Agricultural Practices submitted by APEDA to the Government.

20. Capacity Building Improvement in the working of plant quarantine system, clearance of import export consignments Procedures in India should be be reviewed in comparison with current international practices

21. Capacity Building Improvement of Technical Resources in Organisations like APEDA and NHB to foresee and help meet the emerging market requirements particularly on quality

22. Crop Insurance Crop insurance to be available for horticulture corps Make available crop insurance at 50% concession in premium at least in identified clusters, say AEZs

23. Credit for Crop Production and Processing Make available NABARD finance at 2-3% covering crop loans, processing facilities and export/packing credit May be experimented in AEZs to begin with

25. Incentivise Value Addition Consolidation and value addition is necessary to increase the export Incentives be given for value addition for ‘direct to retail’ sales

26. Market Intelligence Competence to be strengthened for meeting the increasing global competition and market dynamics Market facilitation centre for flowers in the Netherlands has helped in better price realisation, expansion of export window and reduction in rejections Proposal submitted for MFCs in other gateway markets viz Dubai and Tokyo

27. Market Promotion Invest vigorously in market promotion both on a generic basis and for brand building Promotion for ‘Direct to Retail’ sales

28. Evaluation of APEDA Financial Assistance Schemes has found that in fresh fruits and vegetable exports the average growth in turnover of the exporter after seeking assistance has been upto 100%. There has been improvement in quality of existing deliveries

30. Thank you