Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Punjab farmers to try their luck in Ethiopia by Vijay C Roy

Punjab farmers to try their luck in Ethiopia by Vijay C Roy

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Feb 14, 2011   modified Modified on Feb 14, 2011
After feeding the country, the enterprising farmers of Punjab now want to try their hands in Ethiopia. The progressive farmers, mainly members of Poscon (Confederation of Potato Seed Farmers), are planning to take 2,000-5,000 hectares farmland on lease in Ethiopia for growing cash crops like oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane and maize.

The delegation of the progressive farmers has twice visited Ethiopia on the invitation of Ethiopian government. Speaking to Business Standard, Poscon Secretary General Jang Bahadur Singh Sangha said, “We have identified land in Ethiopia. It is premature to quantify exact hectares, but if everything goes well, we would start farming this year. Initially, we are looking at 2,000-5,000 hectares in Ethiopia. Also, we are targeting expansion of 5,000 hectares per year over the next 10 years”. He was in the city to participate in a Seed Industry workshop conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

On the selection of Ethiopia, he mentioned, “The lease amount is nominal. As compared to India, where one has to shell out Rs 25,000-Rs 35,000 per hectare we have to shell out only Rs 500 per hectare. Also, the land is very fertile and virgin. We are planning to export the high value cash crop grown there like pulses, oilseeds and maize to India as we are not self sufficient”.

He added, most of the agricultural land is with the Ethiopian government and it has offered us to acquire land on lease for a period between 25 and 45 years at a nominal rate. Punjab farmers have identified land in Oromia, Gambella and Benhulgul. The initial developmental cost for farming in Ethiopia works out to Rs 25,000-Rs 1 lakh per hectare of land. This cost involves spending on infrastructure, farm machinery and land development.

He added, “We want the Indian government’s participation in the memorandum of understanding. We wish the embassies of both the countries to be involved so that the farmers’ interest be protected on similar lines as China”. The government should also promote transnational farming to ensure availability of deficit crops.

The Business Standard, 15 February, 2011, http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/punjab-farmers-to-try-their-luck-in-ethiopia/425125/


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close