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Centre plans Rs 250cr horticulture project
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Bangalore: The centre would soon launch a Rs 250 crore technology mission in the north-east to give a boost to the horticulture sector in the region, a senior official of the Union ministry of agriculture said on Friday.Special secretary (agriculture and cooperation) in the ministry, JNL Srivastava said that final touches are being given to the North-East Technology Mission, which would be launched soon. The centre wants the private sector to play a major role in production of planting material, extension of technology and marketing with regard to floriculture industry in the country, Srivastava said. India is going to be a big market for floriculture, with attempts being made to achieve a GDP growth of 7 per cent. The Rs 250 crore floriculture industry is `directly related to the people's income levels', he noted."Five per cent of the country's population - five crore- is ready to buy anything at any price...and this is a huge market," Srivastava remarked. He earlier presided over the inaugural function of the International Conference on Commercial Floriculture, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, New Delhi, ministry of agriculture, Government of India and the department of horticulture, Government of Karnataka. The two day conference is being attended by growers, entrepreneurs research and extension workers, policy makers, flower traders and nursery people, among others. Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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