Maharashtra unveils fruit processing project

Vikhe Patil said that some technical changes were made in the original plan of citrus processing project of Katol and Morshi. With the aim to keep the processing unit running round the year, processing of other fruits including papaya and bananas will also be undertaken besides oranges in the project, he said. “The joint venture will be known as AllianceAgro Limited,” he said. Sayantenik will contribute 60 per cent (Rs 24 crore) of the total investment of Rs 40 crore, while MAIDC will contribute the remaining 40 per cent (Rs 16 crore).

Describing the entire project as export oriented, Vikhe Patil said that a big cold storage unit is being set up at Morshi for the project. In addition, Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government in the State will provide Walking coolers in the area. This will help in cold storage of oranges at the farms, the minister said.

Expressing concern over Union Biotechnology Ministry’s failure in taking the State government into confidence before introduction of B T genes containing cotton seeds in Maharashtra in experimental projects, Vikhe Patil said that the Sena-BJP alliance Government has decided to give a warning to the Central government besides MAHYCO and American Monsanto company who have been implementing the experimental projects. The Central government should discuss the matter with the State administration at a length beforeimplementation of the experimental projects, the minister remarked.

Making it clear that seeds will be allowed to reach the farmers only after proper testing by the agricultural universities, Vikhe Patil said that the State government may impose a ban on these seeds if necessary. In reply to a question, the Agriculture Minister accepted that the State government does not have the figures indicating the reduction in agricultural production. It may be recalled that Agriculture Commissioner Dr S K Goyal had accepted the same fact in the last week.

“Announcement regarding the grants, to be made available to the agriculture universities, will be made by the end of January, 1999,” Vikhe Patil said. It will be based on the recommendations made by the committee of vice chancellors of agricultural universities. The grant sanction will neither be cut oriented nor liberal like the earlier ones, the minister clarified.In order to keep the autonomy of the agriculture universities intact, all the restrictions earlierimposed on selling of seeds produced by these varsities have been lifted, the minister informed. The agriculture universities will be at liberty to sell the seeds to private companies, he said. However, companies like Mahabeej will be required to deposit an amount of about Rs 50 lakh with the university for implementation of seed project in the land owned by agriculture university, Vikhe Patil said. Suggesting the agriculture universities to develop barren lands owned by the varsities, Vikhe Patil assured that the State Government will provide financial assistance to the universities for this purpose.