Mumbai (Commonwealth Union)_ India’s first integrated agricultural export facility has put the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai in the spotlight by fostering rural development and support small business.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in India has stated that it is moving into a major initiative to enhance India’s agricultural export and import capacities. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has greenlighted the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)’s project titled ‘Development of Export-Import cum Domestic Agricultural Commodity-Based Processing & Storage Facility at JNPA on PPP Mode’, with an investment of Rs. 284.19 crore.
The JNPA plans to create a comprehensive, state-of-the-art agricultural facility at the port, covering 67,422 square meters. This groundbreaking facility aims to improve logistics efficiency, minimize multiple handling processes and extend the shelf life of agricultural products. Anticipated benefits include better pricing for agricultural commodities, job creation and overall growth in the agricultural sector. It is also set to empower farmers and exporters, boost demand and promote rural development.
“Under the visionary leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi, Ministry for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) is committed to create a robust infrastructure that not only enhances agricultural export capabilities but also supports farmers and rural communities,” said Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sonowal. The development of this all-in-one agricultural facility at JNPA will streamline logistics, reduce wastage and provide better prices for agricultural products. This is a significant step towards empowering our farmers and boosting India’s agricultural sector.”
The facility is to support exports of key items such as non-basmati rice, maize, spices, onions and wheat. JNPA, being a leading gateway for frozen products and a significant hub for other products, will extend its services to exporters from regions beyond Mumbai. This port-based facility will particularly benefit small exporters by enhancing their capabilities in logistics, container booking, cold chain logistics and export operations. The projected increase in export capacity includes a frozen store with a capacity of 1,800 metric tonnes, a cold store with 5,800 metric tonnes and dry warehouses that can hold 12,000 metric tonnes of grains, cereals and dry cargo.
The Ministry indicated that this initiative falls in line with the government’s vision to empower farmers and promote rural development, setting a benchmark for future infrastructure projects aimed at boosting agricultural capabilities of the nation.
It was highlighted that it is worth taking into account that JNPA in Maharashtra is the country’s first major port to operate entirely on the landlord model, with all berths managed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. JNPA is also one of the leading container ports, ranked among the top 100 global ports according to the Lloyds List Top 100 Ports Report.
In Maharashtra, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is undertaking the development of one of the country’s largest ports, Vadhavan Port, which has a total investment of approximately Rs. 76,220 crore. This port will be a state-of-the-art, all-weather Greenfield deep draft major port located in Vadhavan, Palghar District. The project will involve the construction of core infrastructure, terminals and other commercial facilities via the PPP. The planned Vadhavan Port is a top priority for the government, designed to handle an annual cargo volume of 23 million TEUs or 254 million tons. It will have a natural draft of 20 meters, capable of accommodating large container vessels of up to 20,000 TEUs. Upon completion, it will be among the top 10 largest ports in the globe and will serve as a major green fuel hub.
The state of Maharashtra has already completed 16 projects worth Rs. 790 crore, with Rs. 232 crore in financial assistance from the Sagarmala program. Additionally, 14 more projects worth Rs. 1,115 crore are currently in progress, receiving Rs. 561 crore in support from the same scheme.
