IMPHAL,July 5: As India tries to venture into export oriented floriculture by giving a special focus in its development in the Northeast , the Central department of Commerce has directed that no efforts must be spared in ensuring exports from the Northeast to countries like Japan.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Central ministry of Commerce and Industry plans to develop a road map of floriculture in states like Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram, a highly placed source told IFP.
APEDA held an interactive session on June 19 at the Hotel Gateway Grandeur in Guawhati in this regard.
Commerce and Industry commissioner L Lakher Singh represented the State in the meeting chaired by APEDA chairman Santosh Sarangi in which all the participants contributed their point of views.
The meeting analysed the views of participants. Later, it was agreed in the meeting that all the participating commerce secretaries must considered the road map give their approvals.
The meeting also discussed the ongoing projects under EDF and future project proposals of the states.
In this connection, APEDA asked about the data from the state government official of the North-eastern states.
The State governments of the North-eastern states currently employ the hubs and spoke model which was implemented in 2003-2004 through the Directorate of Horticulture.
APEDA also sought data about the area under cultivation and production of various flower crops grown, information on number of stems produced on a weekly basis in the states and for markets service and average price realised on an annual basis, any quality assessment carried out by the State government extension officers to assist the farms, details of sales channel being followed currently and ideas to enhance current capacity and assistance required.