Pawar tips to strengthen fruit-growers

PUNE, Aug 8: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar today suggested the carving out of distinct zones growing the export quali...

PUNE, Aug 8: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar today suggested the carving out of distinct zones growing the export quality grapes and other fruits to further strengthen the Indian fruit-growers in the international market.

Speaking at 40th annual meeting of the Maharashtra Grape-growers Association members, Pawar called for curtailing the production costs of agricultural produces. “Indian grapes were unsuccessful in competing with those coming from vineyards in Brazil and Israel,” Pawar told the gathering. He added that concerted efforts should be made by grape-growers so as to make a dent in the world grapes and resin market.

“The signing of the international trade agreement by India has opened the world market for Indian agriculturists with all its challenges and opportunities. The organisations like the grape growers association would have to focus on research and development activity with a thrust on reducing the costs of the inputs,” Pawar said.

He cited the Vajpayee government’s decision to import sugar from Pakistan “which withstood the price competition in the international market.” Indian sugar exports on the other hand failed and that too despite a production glut, he pointed out.

Pawar also advised the grape growers to avail themselves of the electronic media to widen their market base domestically vis-a-vis in the international arena. “Follow the National Eggs Coordination Committee pattern, spend on advertisement,” he told the association members adding that merely growing grapes would not be sufficient in the years to come.

Earlier, the former defence minister also received the donations from the State association president Balasaheb Dhongade and their national level apex body president Sopan Kanchan for the Kargil fund.