West Bengal is a leading producer of mangoes but the export of this king of fruits remains negligible due to various infrastructural bottlenecks, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) DGM R K Mondal said here today. There are various infrastructural shortcomings and lack of direct connectivity for export of vegetables and fruits. However, we hope to export 75-100 tonnes of mangoes from Bengal this season, he said. But, a lot will depend on the union agricultural ministry’s early approval of a mango treatment plant at Malda district which has been promoted by the West Bengal government. Bengal government has set up a hot-water treatment in Malda, famous for its yield of quality mango, for the treatment of the fruit for exports. Government facility will help in treating a larger quantity of mango for exports.
If approval comes within this month for the state government treatment facility then export of mango can touch 75-100 metric tonnes, sources said. As of now, the total export of mangoes to Europe and the Middle East is about just 25 tonnes. This year mango export to Europe from India is expected to be 1500-2000 metric tonnes and Netherlands and the UK are the major markets. Bengal has sent a few consignments of mangoes this year to Europe as an alternate market since the ban on exporting Indian mangoes was lifted. Mango export from the state received a setback from Bangladesh which raised import duty on mango in the recent years to 50 per cent or Rs 29 a kg. APEDA is now attempting to promote higher shelf-life variety – Lakhanbhog mango to Dubai via sea-route to make it more competitive.
APEDA is now attempting to promote higher shelf-life variety – Lakhanbhog mango to Dubai via sea-route to make it more competitive. We are planning to send a 10-tonne consignment of Lakhanbhog mango to Dubai from Mumbai port to Dubai through the sea route, Mondal said. Export through Kolkata Port is not possible due to longer travel time to Dubai of 15 days. Himsagar is one of the leading variety of mango for exports.
Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today assured trade and industry that their grievances on GST would be taken up with the government and she would personally recommend having a review three months after its implementation. Responding to queries about fixing the slab for different trades and industries during an interactive session organised by BJP’s Coimbatore district unit here, Sitharaman, who is Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, said there should not be any confusion about GST rates on various products. Industry should come forward to raise their doubts and objections, she added. The Minister said there would be some teething problems during implementation of the system, which was conceptualised by taking the people into confidence and trust and was also passed by various State Assemblies. However, in case if the industries are not 100 per cent satisfied, definitely I will recommend to have a review after three months, as suggested by some organisations, she said.
Assuring that no penalty would be imposed for three months if small and medium entrepreneurs failed to submit GST returns, she said the government was ready to make accessible the system, through chartered accountants and cost accountants Associations of various chambers of commerce at district headquarters.
Later, she clarified that changes in the duty drawback scheme would definitely not affect the export performance since India exports products and not tax. Coir Board Chairman C P Radhakrishnan said that GST would be a boon and the issues raised by industries would be solved one by one in due course. The country can expect judicial reforms and electoral reforms soon on the lines of tax reforms like GST, Radhakrishnan said.
The Centre has accepted the Haryana government’s request to procure 50 per cent sunflower seed at minimum support price (MSP) during the current season, the state’s Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar said here today. He said on the request of farmers, the state government had urged the Centre to procure 50 per cent of sunflower seeds so as to protect the interest of sunflower growers. Dhankar said the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), the central nodal agency for procurement of sunflower seed, had agreed to procure up to 50 per cent of its total output at MSP
Earlier, NAFED has procured 25 per cent of sunflower seeds in the state, he told reporters here on the sidelines of the state cabinet meeting. He said the state government had authorised Haryana State Co-operative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (HAFED) for procurement of sunflower seed at MSP on behalf of NAFED.
