Guwahati: To tap into the immense agricultural potential of Arunachal Pradesh, a conference was held on November 30 to explore possibilities and opportunities for the export of high-value fruits and vegetables from the state. The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry experts, and representatives from the Indian Chamber of Commerce to discuss strategies for boosting the horticulture sector.

Manoj Kumar Agarwala, chairman of agriculture, horticulture, and food processing committee-NER of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) underscoring the vital role of horticulture in contributing to the state's GDP during the conference, emphasized the importance of improved packaging technology for enhancing the "competitiveness of the state's produce" in the global market.

Highlighting the state's commitment to fostering growth and investment in the horticulture sector, Koj Rinya,secretary of the horticulture department in Arunachal Pradesh provided insights into an enabling ecosystem that is being created. Rinya shared details about flagship programs such as Atma Nirbhar Bagwani and Plantation Yojana, along with other centrally sponsored schemes aimed at expanding the cultivation area of horticulture crops. "The focus is on increasing the production capacity of the state, with the state already being a significant contributor to the country's kiwi and large cardamom production", Rinya said.

Rinya also highlighted the recent diversification efforts, with the state venturing into high-value crops such as walnuts, persimmon, and avocado. "There should be need-based training for farmers and entrepreneurs", she said, adding that there should be holistic development of all crucial components of the horticulture value chain to ensure a "comprehensive and sustainable growth trajectory."

The conference was organized with the support of the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the Ministry of Commerce, and the central government. The collaborative effort, in association with the state government's Department of Horticulture, aims to harness the immense potential of the state's horticulture sector and position it as a key player in the export market.

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