New Delhi, Jan 10 (KNN) Union Minister of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari has set a new target of taking Khadi turnover to Rs 5 lakh crore in the next five years from the current level of Rs 75, 000 crore.

In last year December, the Minister had set a target of taking Kahdi turnover to Rs 2 lakh crore in the next five years from the present 75,000 crore.

''The turnover of khadi and village industries is Rs 75,000 crore at present. Steps are on to take it to Rs 2 lakh crore in five years,” Gadkari had said while addressing industry body FICCI's 92nd annual convention here. However, during a visit to Central Bee Research and Training Institute in Pune on Thursday, the minister set a new target for the same.

''This sector can create five crore new jobs in the next five years. Marketing was a big problem for this sector so an Alibaba-inspired marketing portal for selling their products is on the anvil. Post offices will be used to deliver khadi products,'' he said.

The Minister also informed that the growth in the turnover in this sector will come from new focus areas such as honey, fisheries, biofuels, bamboo and agro and forest products.

He also announced to launch honey mission and create honey clusters.

Gadkari visited the Central Bee Research and Training Institute in Pune and met entrepreneurs working in this sector.

Ayurvedic products was another area where growth prospects could be increased from Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 1, 00,000 crore. Similarly Khadi Denim was being made in 13 clusters and hand-made handkerchiefs made by women in Kashmir and improved their earnings, the minister said.

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