Food products officials seek exporters' report

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan 22: Top officials of the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) have asked exporters to submit regular monthly reports to their respective regional offices in an effort to help chalk out plans to further promote the export industry.

In an interactive session with the exporters in Malda yesterday evening, APEDA officials Mr Vinod K Kaul, deputy general manager, Delhi, and Mr M P Vijay, regional manager, Kolkata, urged the exporters to submit regular monthly reports.

“Nearly 15,000 exporters are working in this region but we are getting regular monthly reports from only 3,000”, said Mr M P Vijay, regional manager, APEDA, Kolkata.

Deputy general manager, Mr Vinod K Kaul, sought suggestions and constructive reports from the exporters that would detail their plans to promote exports in the region. APEDA would then draw the planning commission's attention to this information.

APEDA received six point demands from the Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce. Mr Kual responded to the MMCC, saying: “APEDA is not in a position to ensure the provision of freight subsidy (by road) for this region at present. However, I would draw the attention of the government to your demands.”

The MMCC also demanded that a Plant Quarantine Office be set up at Mehadipur land customs station, like the one at Patrapole, South Bengal.

The MMCC president, Mr Debabrata Basu, and jt secretary, Mr Ujjal Saha, both pointed out: “Many imported items from Bangladesh have been marketed in this region without the proper checks being made. Those inferior products should come under the scanner of a Plant Quarantine Office that could help maintain quality.”

Dr JN Thakur, deputy director, Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage, said in reply: “Owing to a staff shortage, the department is not interested in setting up a Plant Quarantine Office at present. The good news is that the central government is planning to form a National Agriculture Council Bio-security System, which will help to control quality".

A three member team from the APEDA visited several mango orchards in Malda district yesterday afternoon and discussed the prospects of mango export from this agri-export zone. The APEDA team placed stress on the development of quality mango and litchi production for international export, to be conducted under proper guidelines formulated by the state and national horticulture department.

They also pointed out the frequent use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides as a problem and suggested the introduction of more awareness campaigns among the farmers.