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Maharashtra seeks to leverage agri conference for boosting exports

About 50 proposals that could entail an investment of Rs 20 billion have been prepared by the Maharashtra government to be submitted during the four-day international exhibition-cum-conference ''Agro-Advantage Maharashtra'' which gets underway in Bombay from November 6.

US-based GIC and Mitcom from Pune have prepared the 50 proposals for the state government.

The aim is to bring about a revolutionary change in the agriculture sector of the state.

The Confederation of Indian Industries will oversee the arrangements. Renowned economic advisor Arthur Anderson will assist in compiling information about the event in a book form.

A committee under the state agriculture secretary is studying various aspects of the prevailing laws under the changing economic scenario and will suggest appropriate changes in the policy.

At the same time, a separate committee under the co-operation minister is working to bring about a policy change in the co-operative sector.

The agriculture secretary held special workshops to guide and encourage the investors to come forward to participate in the international conference. Such workshops were held in Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Dapoli during which about 850 industrialists came forward with a total of 250 proposals that could entail investments of Rs 17.50 billion.

Similar workshops will be held in Calcutta, Hyderabad, Madras, Bangalore and Delhi to attract investors. A committee under the chief minister has been in touch with all consulates and industrial houses to ensure success of the scheme.

Special incentives will be given for the proposals received at the conference. Like: grants for 100 per cent export-oriented agro-industries, tax refund on electricity, sales tax refund on capital investment and waiver of sales tax on purchase of raw material.

In 1990-91, the state government chalked out an ambitious horticulture programme and the work is on to provide cold storage facilities for fruits. An ultra-modern laboratory has already been set up to test insecticides so as to ensure better exports. Both processed and fresh agricultural products have tremendous export potential and opportunities.

Fruits like grapes, oranges, mangoes, papaya, banana, chickoo, cashew, vegetables like onion, tomato and flowers like rose have tremendous export opportunties. Dairy development, poultry farming and fisheries also have tremendous export potential.

The state government is organising the event to make investors from India and abroad aware of the diverse and special features of the agricultural sector in the state and its tremendous export potential.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will inaugurate the event. About 3000 delegates, 500 leading industrialists, 250 foreign investors are expected to participate. Half-a-million farmers would throng Bombay on November 8 to take part in an event-related rally.

Farm lands in the agriculture universities in the state would be made available for agro-based industries. Such land at Rahuri and Parbhani has already been identified.

UNI