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Noida, Sep 27 (PTI) Agriculture and agri-based entrepreneurship from Meerut have emerged as a major attraction at the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show, with polyhouse-grown vegetables, flowers and honey drawing interest from buyers and visitors from India and abroad, according to an official statement on Sunday.
At the horticulture department’s outlet at India Expo Mart, products, including Gerbera and rose flowers, lotus stem, capsicum, brinjal, and honey are being showcased by farmers and agri-entrepreneurs from Meerut, the statement said.
Ravindra Kumar, a farmer from Kheda village in Sardhana tehsil, has adopted polyhouse cultivation on five acres with the help of horticulture department schemes and has achieved an annual turnover of more
than Rs 29 lakh, it said.
Kumar is growing yellow, green and red capsicums weighing between 300 and 400 grams in his polyhouse. The produce is in demand at Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi, according to the statement.
Kumar, who also participated in last year’s trade show, said the exhibition helped him gain recognition among buyers. This year, several event management companies have approached him for supplies of Gerbera and rose flowers, while discussions have also been held with some companies for signing memorandums of understanding (MoUs), the statement said.
Kumar said government schemes were helping farmers move beyond traditional farming towards modern technology and market-oriented production.
Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Horticulture Dinesh Pratap Singh also inspected the department’s outlet, viewed the farmers’ products and encouraged them, according to the statement.
Honey products of Meerut-based Rantrove Natural have also attracted visitors at the outlet. Young entrepreneurs Rakhi Aghera and her brother Bharat Aghera said their company received an order for 46 tonnes of honey from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam last year.
They expressed hope that this year’s trade show would help the company secure new business opportunities and larger orders, the statement said.
Senior Horticulture Inspector Sanjay Singh, who is involved in managing the outlet, said the trade show was not merely a platform for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs from Meerut to display their products but also provided an opportunity to connect directly with buyers and business institutions. PTI KIS TRB
TRB
