Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal Visits Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board Facilities

Thane : Maharashtra’s Marketing and Protocol Minister and Chairman of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr. Jaykumar Rawal, visited the facilities of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board at Vashi on December 30. During this visit, Minister Rawal discussed the ongoing work at the facility with the officials. Present during the visit were the General Manager of the Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr. Vinayak Kokare, and other officials working at the facility.

A detailed presentation was given on the irradiation facility center, hot vapor treatment center, and vegetable processing center at Vashi, essential for exporting agricultural produce to countries such as the USA, Australia, European nations, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, and others. Minister Rawal expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work in these centers.

During the discussions, Minister Rawal also explored ways to increase exports to developed countries. He emphasized that India, currently the fifth-largest economy in the world, should learn from developed nations like the USA and China on marketing agricultural produce. He instructed officials to gather information on how these countries manage agricultural marketing. He noted that China’s cultivated agricultural area is three times that of India’s and suggested studying their marketing strategies.

Officials informed the minister that a protocol has been developed for exporting agricultural produce to distant countries via sea routes. As an example, a trial consignment of bananas was sent to Russia, which successfully reached its destination. The General Manager of the Agricultural Marketing Board, Mr. Vinayak Kokare, provided this information and suggested further discussions to improve operations.

Minister Rawal also directed that a one-day workshop for exporters and stakeholders of various agricultural products be organized in Mumbai in February 2025, in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board and the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Mumbai.

During this meeting, Legislative Council Member and Director of the Mumbai Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Mr. Shashikant Shinde, Chairman of the Mumbai Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Mr. Ashok Dak, Secretary Dr. P.L. Khandagale, and other officials were present.