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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

1. Mango & Vegetables in South and Central Gujarat .
2. Value added onion in Saurashtra.
3. Sesome seeds in Saurashtra.

Agri Export Zone in South and Central Gujarat

• 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

Agri Export Zone for Value Added Onion in Saurashtra

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