K'taka should take lead in organic production: Nirmala

The demand and consumption of organic products have increased globally by 10%. India’s export of organic products, too, increased by 30% in the last one year but a lot more needs to be done, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday.

She was speaking at the valedictory function of the three-day-long Organics and Millets 2017 – National Trade Fair. She said the consumption of organic products was 32% in India and 47% in the US. The challenge before the Indian market is to increase aggregation, packaging and processing. The startups of Karnataka should come forward and take up the challenge, she said.

“Byadgi chillies and black pepper from Karnataka are in good demand. But there is a need to package them well. There is one unit in Byadgi, but it is not up to the mark. It needs to improve. More and more organic and millet products should be made in Karnataka,” she said.

Minister for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda said the state government would organise an international-level organics and millets fair in Bengaluru next year. The Central government should encourage more such fairs in India, he added.

On the occasion, 20 Memoranda of Understanding worth Rs 45-crore business opportunities were signed. The three-day mela registered sales worth Rs 80 lakh.
DH News Service