Harsh criticism of poor performance of agri export zones in West Bengal by Jairam Ramesh, Union minister of state for commerce and industry, as a 'discarded and a failed concept', appears to have induced the West Bengal government to set pragmatic export targets for 2008.
According to Sanjeev Chopra, secretary of the horticulture and food processing department of West Bengal, steps were being taken so that exporters from the state could sell overseas at least 1 per cent of the total state produce through the AEZs.
While admitting the dismal performance of AEZs, Chopra said, "They were not able to perform to expectations owing to variety of reasons."
He added, "Every year we draw export plans in the May-July period, but this year we will start planning our export strategies for the next season from October onwards. By December, we will firm up our plans for export volumes with leading exporters".
According to a status report by Agricultural and processed Food Products Exports Developments Authority on AEZs in January 2007, West Bengal had an export target of Rs 1,217 crore (Rs 12.17 billion) last year, but actual export was Rs 85.65 crore (Rs 856.5 million) from the six AEZs in the state.
The six AEZs were for pineapple, lychee, potatoes, mango, Darjeeling tea and vegetables.
No exports through the AEZs were reported in case of Darjeeling tea, though direct merchant exports took place.
Even though West Bengal was a leading producer of potato with production of around 60 lakh ton last year, Bengal earned only Rs 3.72 crore (Rs 37.2 million) from export, against a target of Rs 145 crore (Rs 1.45 billion).
In case of vegetables too, the state's production exceeded 10 million tons but last year, export of vegetables was only Rs 4 crore (Rs 40 million) against a target of Rs 152 crore (Rs 1.52 billion).
For lychee, production was close to 65,000 tons. Export was worth only Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million), against a target of Rs 27 crore (Rs 270 million) last year.
Mango production in the state is close to 500,000 tons.
Exports were better than other AEZ products at Rs 74 crore (Rs 740 million), against the target of Rs 93 crore (Rs 930 million).
Pineapple production was close to 300,000 tons. However, exports were worth only Rs 20 lakh against a target of Rs 127 crore (Rs 1.27 billion).