The Agri Export Zone (AEZ) in the state has started functioning by exporting
vegetables from the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Thrissur.
The AEZ was set up in the State in March 2003 with an aim to introduce
the average farmer to the possibilities of a world market by cultivating
specific export oriented products in specially nurtured zones. The operational
area of AEZ is spread over the nine districts of Thiruvananthapuram,
Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur
and Palakkad.
“We prefer to buy vegetable directly from farmers in the AEZ as
we are convinced about the quality” said Basheer one of the managing
partners of Basheer and Shahid, an Alappuzha based firm which procures
vegetables for export from Thiruvananthapuram. These vegetables are
exported to destinations in West Asia and Europe through air ports in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. “We have been procuring
vegetables from farmers in the AEZ directly”, says C.M.Mathew,
managing director of the Kottayam based exporting firm Parayil food
products. The firm exports processed food products to countries in Europe
and the United States .
One of the major crops in the AEZ, banana, cultivated in 550 hectares
is getting ready for harvest, said
S. Janardhanan, Assistant Director of Agriculture who is in charge of
the AEZ cell. About 4900 farmers have been given training to undertake
farming activities in 1200 hectares by the Agriculture Department .
The banana cultivation is given a subsidy of Rs. 15000 per hectare and
the other important crop, pineapple and vegetables are given Rs. 5000
each he added.
Unlike the other subsides given by the Agricultural Department, financial
assistance to crops in AEZ are disbursed after harvest through bank
accounts of the farmers. The AEZ have entered into MoUs with State Bank
of India, State Bank of Travancore, Indian Overseas Bank and Union Bank
of India to provide credit facility to the farmers.
The other activities initiated by the cell is the setting up of district
nurseries with private participation.
The notification for the setting up of nurseries to supply seeds and
planting materials needed for planting in AEZ has already been given.
A team consisting of the Principal Agricultural Officer at disricts,
and Deputy Director of Marketing would finalize decision on the nurseries,
said Janardhanan.
Overseas companies have already evinced interest in entering into contract
farming in the state. One of the major firms that has come up is the
UK based Unifruit Private Limited for cultivation and mechanized processing
of one of the banana varieties.
Another Kannur based food processing firm has also come up with a proposal
to enter in contract farming for pineapple farming in the northern districts
in the State.
