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The AEZ scheme is special in the sense that it would be the first time that private sector will come to be associated with major investments committed in the agricultural sector in the State.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 6

THE State Government has earmarked an investment of Rs 29.87 crore over a period of the next five years for setting up agri-export zones (AEZs) catering to various horticultural/fruit items, in which it enjoys traditional strength as a bulk and natural producer.

Disclosing this to newspersons here, the Agriculture Minister, Ms K. R. Gowri Amma, said here that the AEZs would cover banana/plantain, pineapple, horticulture items, tapioca and other tuber crops. The hinterland would extend to a vast area covering the nine districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad.

These apart, separate zones are being proposed for medicinal/ spice plants and flowers also. Of the total Rs 29.87-crore investment proposed, Rs 9.98 crore would be the contribution from the Centre while Rs 8.03 crore would come from the State Government.

The AEZ scheme is also special for Kerala in the sense that it will be the first time that private sector would come to be associated with major investments committed in the agricultural sector in the State. The private sector participation in the venture would be to the extent of Rs 11.86 crore.

Explaining the salient features of the scheme, the Minister said modernisation and commercialisation of agricultural practices would be the most tangible outcome. It is proposed to extend the area of cultivation of exportable crops to another 500 hectares in later stages. The Rs 3-crore investment required for the purpose would be equally shared between the Central Government and the private sector.

A Rs 6-crore scheme has been planned to set up 50 farms with a size of 10 hectares each for growing banana/plantains, pineapple and horticultural produce. Nine nurseries with tissue culture facilities would be set up in the agri export zones with an investment of Rs 1.80 crore.

Integrated pest control measures would be taken up at a cost of Rs 60 lakh while a central inspection laboratory would be set up at a cost of Rs 50 lakh for conducting soil testing, evaluation of water samples and leaf testing.

Market information gathering and analysis (Rs 15 lakh), special assistance for raising productive efficiency for fruits and horticulture produce (Rs 1.75 crore), warehouses (Rs 1.50 crore) and four integrated pack houses alongside the existing EEC markets (Rs 1.50 crore), a banana wafer unit (Rs 1.50 crore) and reefer trucks for transporting fruits/horticulture produce from collection centres to packing centres and further to airports (Rs 25 lakh from the Agriculture Products Export Development Authority and Rs 71 lakh from the private sector) are the other investments associated with the scheme.

Modern quality control facilities conforming to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points and the Indian standards Organisation would also be set up at the AEZs, the Minister said.

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