'Food processing needs to be promoted aggressively'

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, Jan 18: There is need for supporting youth of the State in nurturing their entrepreneurship skills by fincial assistance schemes for start-up and food processing is one sector that needs to be promoted aggressively’ said Aruchal Pradesh Planning Secretary Som Chombay, Secretary (Planning) here today. “Food Processing Industry is a sunrise industry which has the potential of dramatically improving rural livelihood opportunities and bridge the rural-urban divide,” Som said while addressing a day-long conference on ‘Linking Prospective Food Entrepreneurs with Government schemes and market’, organized by ASSOCHAM in collaboration with the union Ministry of Food Processing Industries. He said food processing industry is critical for the development of the country as it establishes vital linkages between the two pillars of economy - agriculture and industry.

He also asked for a constructive partnership which would transform the food processing sector of the country and thereby also transform the fortunes of Aruchal Pradesh. He urged to work in tandem to promote development of viable agribusiness and agro industry based on different agro climates and regions of the country with emphasis on institutiol strengthening and capacity building across the value chain.

While praising ASSOCHAM for bringing this important agenda into notice by organizing the conclave, Som touched on various topics like attributes of a successful entrepreneur, challenges faced and the support and assistance provided by the government, educatiol institutes and apex industry bodies like ASSOCHAM.

He also said that the agro climatic condition of Aruchal Pradesh is suitable to agricultural and horticultural crops, and that a strong and effective food processing sector would play a significant role in employment generation as well as harnessing and exploiting local resources.

The secretary also emphasized on the need for partnerships for training and competence building marketing, processing, projects and infrastructure development to accelerate growth and development to food processing sector in the region leading to more jobs, incomes and opportunities for the people.

He suggested diversifying agriculture in the State via organic farming, veteriry, poultry and floriculture.

He also gave a holistic picture of the Indian Food industry as well as scope of the State to get itself in the forefront.

 “Market linkage is the major problem faced by State’s farmers hence industry associations like ASSOCHAM should focus on building exterl market linkage for food processing units,” he added.

ASSOCHAM southern regiol council member R Shivakumar highlighted about the objectives of the initiative to create awareness about support schemes for start up and food entrepreneurs.

He also highlighted growth of the agriculture and processed food sector in the North-East region while comparing it with the overall growth of the economy of Aruchal Pradesh. He said that focus for development should be on food processing which is one of the major sector which holds unexplored scope to strengthen the economy of the State of Aruchal Pradesh.

North East Regiol Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) director Dr P K Das in his address highlighted that the Centre is promoting the food processing sector in the region to utilize its vast potential of raw horticultural produce through its various fincial assistance schemes primarily by Ministry of Food Processing Industries through State government of Aruchal Pradesh and agencies like MSME, NHB, APEDA, BARD, QCI, NHM, NERAMAC, Public and Private sector Banks and other fincial institutions.

He recognized a number of constraints both in forward and backward linkages and called upon small entrepreneurs to thing big and makes global brands.

He also proposed that there should be coherence in the policy outlook of the government as there multiple ministries and bodies are involved.

In his address Aruchal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing & Processing Board (APHPM&PB) Maging Director Tage Tatung said that there is a huge scope and opportunity for food processing industry in the in the north east region especially in Aruchal.

He rrated the initiatives taken by the State government in promoting food processing industry and encouraged the youths to grab opportunities coming in their way to become entrepreneurs.

He also touched upon the central sector schemes for providing modern infrastructure for food processing industries in the Aruchal Pradesh. He also said that India is widening its reach in food processing sector for farmer’s welfare.

He added that Food processing is emerging as a major industry in the State and has the potential of generating employment and raising farm incomes.

ACCI chief advisor Pradeep Kumar in his address said that agriculture is the main occupation for majority of the populace in this region wherein and experts opinion that horticulture is an important sector which has major contributor to the economies of these State.

“The State’s economy is largely agrarian, based on the terraced farming of rice and the cultivation of crops such as maize, millet, wheat, barley, oranges, tea and cardamom. Fruits and vegetables, like ba, pineapple, orange, papaya, lemon, potato, sweet potato, tapioca chillies, turmeric, onion, ginger, bamboo shoot and jack fruit, have good marketing scope in this region if properly harvested, processed and packaged. As a result Food processing industry especially agro- horticultural based has been identified as a thrust area of development in the State,” Kumar added.