PANAJI
In a move intended to develop Goa into an agriculture export hub, the State government has notified an Agriculture Export Policy (AEP) providing for developing the requisite infrastructure and promote export of newer and indigenous products.
The move comes as a sequel to a similar policy notified in 2018 by the Centre which had at that time asked States to adopt complimentary policies.
According to the policy notified by the Goa government, it broadly aims to maximise farmer income as also spike the State's share of national agriculture exports.
Agriculture produce from Goa such as cashew, 'mancurad' mango, Moira banana, 'alsando', korgut rice variety could form the export blanket of the State, the policy states.
It also claims that currently, 9,500 hectares of cashew plantation is certified organic and an additional 1,500 hectares are in the process of being certified.
Branding organic cashew from Goa can fetch higher revenues and increase income of farmers, the policy further claims.
Currently alcoholic beverages, jaggery and confectionary, besides miscellaneous preparations and cereals preparations comprise bulk of products exported from Goa, it said.
Back in 2017-18, 13,585.93 MT of agricultural products aggregating Rs 73.64 crore were exported by the State as per figures provided by Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
