Rajasthan formulating new strategies for value addition to farm produce

The Rajasthan government is formulating new strategies for food processing and value addition to agricultural produce in an attempt to transform agricultural potential into economic prosperity. A stakeholders’ consultation held here on Monday laid emphasis on strengthening rural economy through these steps.

Presiding over the consultation at the State Secretariat, Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said the value addition would bring better prices for farmers’ produce, boost investment and create new employment opportunities for the youth.

Mr. Srinivas said the new strategies would comprise the establishment of food processing units, development of food parks and agro-processing clusters, and better facilities for entrepreneurs. Financial assistance would be provided to industries to accelerate the sector’s growth, he added.

Detailed deliberations were held on the expansion of the food processing sector, available opportunities, challenges and the necessary policy reforms in the presence of A.P. Das Joshi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Mr. Srinivas said the coordination between the Union and State governments, industries, financial institutions and agricultural and academic bodies would help ensure a steady growth of the food processing sector. “The policy and institutional initiatives will be undertaken based on the feedback of stakeholders,” he said.

Industry representatives, micro, small and medium enterprises, farmer producer organisations, exporters, startups, agricultural universities and the banking sector representatives gave their suggestions at the consultation.

The recommendations included easy access to financial assistance for industries, strengthening of food testing laboratories and incubation centres, expansion of cold chain and processing infrastructure, and reforms for effective implementation of schemes. The focus was also laid on the investment-friendly environment in the State.

Mr. Das Joshi said the stakeholders in Rajasthan should reap the full potential of agriculture and horticulture sectors for augmenting the farmers’ income and generating large-scale employment. State Agriculture Secretary Rajan Vishal threw light on the government’s incentive policies and the proposed food park policy. (EOM)