KTR eyes sector linked to agri
Food processing units have great scope as agri output has gone up, says minister
IT and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao said that though Telangana was witnessing an increase in crop production, the state does not have the capacity to fully process them. He said that against this backdrop there was an urgent need to promote the food processing industry.
The minister was giving a presentation to his Cabinet colleagues on food processing and logistics policies here on Wednesday. Mr Rao said that there are abundant investment opportunities in the food processing sector as the state registered a quantum leap in agriculture production. He opined that by promoting the food processing sector extensively, farmers will be able to grow economically and help create employment opportunities for the local youth.
He stressed that these policies will help bolster rural economies, attract investments, and increase employment opportunities. Mr Rao pointed out that the completion of irrigation projects and other similar measures have helped in increasing irrigation facilities and agricultural production in the state.
The minister said that due to the implementation of the sheep and fish fingerlings distribution schemes, there has been a significant increase in the number of sheep and production of fish. He said the state was experiencing a water revolution and was in the process of witnessing another Green Revolution (agriculture), followed by Blue Revolution (fisheries), Pink Revolution (meat production), and White Revolution (milk).
He highlighted that the crops being cultivated in every village, mandal and district are being mapped for comprehensive information on agricultural operations.
He said that there will be special incentives for SCs, STs, minorities and women while setting up their food processing unit. He explained that necessary subsidies and incentives to develop the food processing industry have been proposed. Incentives given in other states and countries are being studied, he said. He took inputs from ministers and assured them to take their suggestions while drafting the guidelines. Ministers Harish Rao, Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Srinivas Goud, Mohammad Mahmood Ali, Etala Rajendar, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Koppula Eshwar, Sabitha Indrareddy, Satyavathi Rathod, V Prashanth Reddy, Gangula Kamalakar, Puvvada Ajay, Jagadish Reddy, Indra Karan Reddy, Telangana State Planning Board vice-chairman B Vinod Kumar, Government Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Principal Secretaries, and senior officials were present in the meeting.