Assam hosts first international agri-horticultural exhibition

The first ever international agri-horticultural exhibition in Assam is giving farmers and entrepreneurs in the north eastern region an opportunity to showcase their products to a global market.

The international expo started in Guwahati on January 8 and will conclude on January 11.

The event was inaugurated by Assam's Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and it started with a traditional dance performance from the region.

Gogoi said the exhibition will serve as a platform to farmers to gain knowledge and promote their produce.

"They haven't come just to waste money in Assam, they have come here because they see scope here. The government wants to provider such facilities in the state and we want the same," he said.

The show has been organised by the state's directorate of horticulture and food processing, department of agriculture and the Assam Agricultural University in collaboration with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Assam Horticultural Society.

Assistant Marketing Inspector, Hargobind Chaudhary, said through this agri-horticultural exhibition they are making an effort for the farmers to earn more than the middlemen.

"The advantage is that we can directly buy products from the growers. This way we are enabling the farmers to make more money than the middlemen," he said.

Representatives from at least 14 countries including China, Bangladesh, Laos, Bhutan, Canada, Israel, Nepal and from European Union are participating in the exhibition.

A foreign representative from Bangladesh, Ashok Kumar Lal, said they would like to share their experience in India with the farmers in the neighbouring country.

"We are actually over here to see the material of the fair. There are many kinds of stalls coming from different countries and different province of India. We like to share our experience with the people of India and we also like to take the technology and experience we successfully shown in this fair to Bangladesh. That will help our Bangladesh for the development of agricultural sector," said Lal.

Around 400 stalls showcasing indigenous rice varieties, organic fruits, spices, vegetables and a lot more have been put up by various organisations from across the nation along with 20 stalls by foreign representatives.

The programme was also marked by the presence of provincial farm minister Nilamani Sen Deka and junior farm minister Charan Das Mahant.

Apart from fruits and different varieties of vegetables, fertilisers and agricultural machinery like tractor were also on display at the show where foreign counties are also exploring trade and commerce potential in the country.