Piyush Goyal asks ICAR to explore possibilities to grow imported fruits

NEW DELHI: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, has asked Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to coordinate with Commerce Ministry to examine data of imported agri produce and explore possibilities of growing these in the country towards becoming self sufficient.

“We import flowers worth Rs 230 crore while the import value of fruits is around Rs 5,000 crore. ICAR can get the data from commerce ministry and evaluate the kind of soil used, amount of fertiliser and water required and surrounding markets where these can be sold,” Goyal said while addressing 92nd annual general meeting of ICAR.

He said that there is lot of scope in the cultivation of flowers and horticulture crops in the country.