Plea to improve fruit quality

India exported 30,000 tonnes of pomegranate to West Asian countries, UK, Russia and America in 2006-2007, earning precious foreign exchange.

Urging for greater emphasis on the fruit, president of All India Pomogranate Growers' Association Prabhakar Chandane said universities of agricultural sciences in the country to work towards improving the quality of pomegranate which is emerging as the king of fruits.

Speaking at the inaugural session of workshop on 'Prospects of quality pomegranate production and marketing in Karnataka' organised by the agri business and export knowledge centre of the University of Agricultural Sciences on Tuesday, he said pomegranate was being cultivated on 125,000 hectares in India with Maharastra having 95,000 hectares, Karnataka 15,000 hectares, Andhra Pradesh 5,000 hectares and other states 10,000 hectares. The fruit is in great demand abroad and

Prabhakar said the Centre and state governments were providing funds in 50:25 ratios to control pest with farmers contributing 25 per cent.

Director of Indian Agriculture Research Institute and former vice chancellor of Dharwad UAS S A Patil suggested that the farmers should develop seeds and follow organic farming methods to cut the cost of production.

He said that the IARI had taken measures to provide market information and also disseminate the benefits of research to farmers.