Kochi, May 31 The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), in association with the State Horticulture Mission – Kerala, is organising a two-day conference on ‘Farming for Export Meet’ on June 2 and 3 at the airport.
The objective of the meet is to educate and motivate farmers and to develop them from livelihood farming to market oriented agriculture and international trade. The meet, which is the first of such initiative, will have the active involvement of block panchayats, SHM, Vegetable and Fruits Promotion Council – Kerala, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, research centres, financial and educational institutions.
Focus areas
The first day of the meet will focus on horticulture farming and the second day on floriculture farming. The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanadan, will inaugurate the event in a function also to be attended by the State Agriculture Minister, Mr Mullakkara Ratnakaran, and the Minister for Fisheries and Registrations, Mr S. Sarma.
Initially, the ‘farming for export meet’ is confined to the catchments area of CIAL such as Ernakulam, Thrissur and Idukki districts. In the long run, it has the potential to run farmers into successful exporters. Export of perishable goods comprising fruits, vegetables and flowers through CIAL accounts for 60 per cent of the total exports.
Source : Business Line