PUNE: The Centre is of the opinion that only exports can ease the country's farmers' woes.
Speaking at a programme organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Pune on Sunday, Union commerce minister Suresh Prabhu said the Centre is drafting an agriculture export policy, a first for India. Prabhu said the government is also taking other steps, such as special studies and researching new products, to increase India's export potential.
"India is at a great advantage, because we have 35 agro-climatic zones. We produce everything that is possible to be produced," said Prabhu, "The prime minister's vision of doubling farmers' income will be possible only when we export our agriculture products."
He was referring to comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, when he had said: "By 2022, when the country will be celebrating 75 years of its Independence, farmers' income will be doubled. We will now ensure an efficient "Beej to Bazaar (seeds to market)" system to increase the income of farmers."
Prabhu made a strong case for the export policy, saying it was tough to consume the agricultural produce in the domestic market due to its perishable nature. "So, export is necessary and the new policy will help," Prabhu said.
Prabhu then said the private sector will continue to script the India's growth story. "There is a need to improve the share of manufacturing in the GDP. Currently it is less than 20%, where ideally it should be 25%," Prabhu said, "For this to happen, a two-prong approach is needed — protecting today's manufacturing sector as well as coming up with manufacturing innovations. Even the service industry should generate new ideas."
He urged the service industry to focus on value addition. "(Improve) some existing services and (bring about) some which are not even on offer," he said, "Includinig India providing 'home care services' to other nations with a large population of senior citizens," Prabhu said.
He said that there is a need to find new destinations and reach out to smaller countries with low investment capacity. "The ministry is intent on creating a 'virtual ecosystem' to promote start-ups. It is looking at new supply chain. Even new industry corridors are on the cards," Prabhu said.
Speaking at a programme organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Pune on Sunday, Union commerce minister Suresh Prabhu said the Centre is drafting an agriculture export policy, a first for India. Prabhu said the government is also taking other steps, such as special studies and researching new products, to increase India's export potential.
"India is at a great advantage, because we have 35 agro-climatic zones. We produce everything that is possible to be produced," said Prabhu, "The prime minister's vision of doubling farmers' income will be possible only when we export our agriculture products."
He was referring to comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, when he had said: "By 2022, when the country will be celebrating 75 years of its Independence, farmers' income will be doubled. We will now ensure an efficient "Beej to Bazaar (seeds to market)" system to increase the income of farmers."
Prabhu made a strong case for the export policy, saying it was tough to consume the agricultural produce in the domestic market due to its perishable nature. "So, export is necessary and the new policy will help," Prabhu said.
Prabhu then said the private sector will continue to script the India's growth story. "There is a need to improve the share of manufacturing in the GDP. Currently it is less than 20%, where ideally it should be 25%," Prabhu said, "For this to happen, a two-prong approach is needed — protecting today's manufacturing sector as well as coming up with manufacturing innovations. Even the service industry should generate new ideas."
He urged the service industry to focus on value addition. "(Improve) some existing services and (bring about) some which are not even on offer," he said, "Includinig India providing 'home care services' to other nations with a large population of senior citizens," Prabhu said.
He said that there is a need to find new destinations and reach out to smaller countries with low investment capacity. "The ministry is intent on creating a 'virtual ecosystem' to promote start-ups. It is looking at new supply chain. Even new industry corridors are on the cards," Prabhu said.
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