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space and to set up cold storages and cold chains.
• Unique Organics plans to set up an integrated herbal
tea processing facility in West Bengal with total outlay
estimated at US$ 79.73 million. Further, a mobile
application named TRA Tocklai on Android and IOS
platforms has also been launched by Tea Research
Association (TRA) in India.
• The Technology Mission on Coconut has cleared 14
projects with an outlay of US$ 3.06 million. Proposals
from 10 coconut processing units have been
sanctioned assistance.
• Tata Chemicals Ltdhas announced thepan-India launch
of FarmGro (foliar spray) and FarmGro G (granules) as
organic plant growth regulators.
Government Initiatives to give impetus to
agriculture
The Government has taken several steps to revitalize
agriculture sector and improve the conditions of farming
community on sustainable basis by increasing investment,
improving farm practices, rural infrastructure, delivery of
credit, technology and other inputs. Various factors act as
drivers to growth in the agriculture sector. Some of these
are
• There has been a notable increase in the incomes of
people living in urban areas, which in turn acts as the
key driver for the increase in demand for agriculture
products.
• Various plans and programs have been introduced by
the Department Of Agriculture and Corporation to
give a boost to the sector. A sum of US$4.2 billion has
been finalized for spending on agriculture in the union
budget of the financial year 2013.
• The funding allocation on Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
(National Agricultural Development Plan) has been
increased by 19% when compared to the previous
financial year, and it amounts to US$1.9 billion.
• The Government of India has allotted the sum of
US$65.1 million to promote the growing of pulses in
villages and other areas which receive optimal rainfall.
• A sizable amount of US$41.7 million has been allocated
by the Government of India in the agricultural sector
for research and development.
Someof themajorinitiativestakenbytheGovernment
of India include:
• Setting up of two spice parks at Sitarganj and Sahaspur
in Uttrakhand State with the help of Spice Board of
India. A spice park at Mattupetty Sivaganga in Tamil
Nadu for processing turmeric and chilli
• Permitting 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route
in storage and warehousing including cold storages.
100 per cent FDI is also permitted for development of
seeds
• Approval for the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil
Palm during the 12th Plan with financial allocation
