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It's not doing different things; it's just doing things differently
Setting up AEZs is one of the important initiatives in recent years to boost production of exportable agricultural produce. Ministry of commerce, Government of India, has introduced the concept in EXIM policy 2001-02 which is being implemented by APEDA. A contiguous area for specific crop (s) is notified as AEZ
Projects for value addition or exports of these crops, set up in such area receive the benefit of convergence of various central & state government schemes and focused attention for research, introduction of crop varieties in demand abroad, scientific cultural practices etc. Certain special incentives given by the state government are as under:
- The state would not levy any tax/cess. APMC cess would not levy on
inputs required in processing of agricultural/horticultural products for
export in AEZ's subject to condition laid down in clause 48 (2) of APMC
Act 1963.
- GEB will provide need based uninterrupted power supply to the
processing units and the post harvest centres. Whenever, the units want to
set up their own generation facilities for their requirement of power fully,
the GEB will accord permission to the units to generate their own
electricity up to 25 M.W. without any minimum charges.
- The units set up in the AEZ shall be eligible for incentives under New
Agro Industrial Policy announced vide Industries & Mines Departments
G.R. No. APN/1099/2007/I dated 2/1/2001 and the new industrial policy
announced in 2003.
For the state of Gujarat, GAIC has been designated as the Nodal Agency for implementation of AEZs.
The following three Agri Export Zones have been approved by the Government of India (Ministry of Commerce) and are under implementation in the state of Gujarat.
- Mango & Vegetables in South and Central Gujarat .
- Value added onion in Saurashtra.
- Sesome seeds in Saurashtra.
Agri Export Zone in South and Central Gujarat
| Eligible Areas : |
Ahmedabad, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch,
Narmada, Surat, Navsari and Valsad Districts. |
Progress so far
- To promote the development of quality horticultural produce for exports
in South Gujarat, two pre harvest training programs on mango and one
pre & post harvest training program on vegetables was organized at
Navsari Agricultural University. In all, 534 participants availed these
training programs. On this occasion, a "Growers Manual on Pre harvest
Technology of Mango" and another on "Pre and Post harvest technology
of Vegetable Crops" were released and distributed amongst the farmers.
- 402 mango farmers and 196 okra farmers availed the benefits of contract
farming under MFPI scheme for backward linkages.
- Air freight subsidy approved for exports of mangoes and vegetables from
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Ahmedabad was Rs. 3.7
lacs till date.
Major Investments
- One Pack House/Value Added Centre was established in Navsari by
progressive farmers with an investment of about Rs. 2.5 crores. M/s Desai
Cold Storage Pvt. Ltd. (DCSPL) has processed 1700 tonnes of Mangoes
and 1440 tonnes of vegetables for export in the year 2005.
- The total investment in fruits and vegetable processing units as on
31.12.2005 was Rs. 30.03 crores
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- 15 new units were established with an investment of Rs. 22.09 crores between 2002-03 to December 2005.
- 4 new units undertook expansion drives with an investment of Rs. 8.02 crores
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Agri Export Zone for Value Added Onion in Saurashtra
| Eligible Areas : |
Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Amreli, Rajkot, Jungadh and Jamnagar Districts |
Progress so far
- The Government of Gujarat has allotted 9.5 ha. land at Talaja to National
Horticultural Research & Development Foundation (NHRDF) for setting
up a Research & Development cum Demonstration Centre. This centre
would undertake futuristic research towards varietal improvement and
impart training towards the adoption of modern technology for the
cultivation of onion by farmers in AEZ. NHRDF has developed varieties
acceptable in the international market such as "Agri Found Light Red and
Agri Found Dark Red". Seed multiplication programme of these varieties
has already commenced and about 500 farmers have visited the farm
during Kisan Shibir.
- The onion dehydration industry of Saurashtra contributes about 70% to
the total export of dehydrated onion from the country. These units are in
the small scale sector and process white onions. GAIC has undertaken a
drive to upgrade quality standards of these units by implementing
"Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)" program in these
units under the aegis of APEDA. Twenty units have already received
HACCP certification and in rest of the units the programme is under
implementation to ensure that all dehydration units in AEZ area are
maintaining health and hygiene standards as required by international
buyers.
- 233 onion farmers availed the benefits of contract farming under MFPI
scheme for backward linkages
Major Investments
- The total investment in AEZ area as on 31.12.05 was Rs. 29.01 crores
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- 15 new units were established with a total investment of Rs.
20.10 crores in 2003 to December 2005.
- 5 units undertook an expansion drive with a total investment of
Rs. 6.99 crores
- 1 unit underwent modernization with an investment of Rs. 1.92
crores.
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