Agri dept signs MoU for quinoa processing plant in Udaipur, Tonk

Now farmers growing quinoa in Rajasthan need not have to find buyers, a private company is setting up a quinoa processing unit. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the agriculture department and Organic 121, a company which provides technology and products on water treatment, cleaning, food, agriculture and sanitation, in the presence of agriculture minister Prabhu Lal Saini on Wednesday.

Saini said that the company will set up the processing units at Udaipur and Tonk by investing Rs 20 crore. More than 1,200 people will get direct and indirect employment.

The MoU was signed by additional chief secretary Neelkamal Darbari on behalf of the agriculture department and Rajasthan in-charge Rakesh Saini on behalf of the company.

The minister said that farmers’ income can be doubled by adopting innovation and this MoU will prove beneficial in boosting farm income. “This company will buy quinoa from farmers. Till now, farmers were facing problems in selling quinoa as there was no processing unit. With this processing unit, farmers will get a good price for quinoa. The project is expected to be complete in a year, but the company will set up a small processing unit within the next three months.” At present, quinoa is grown by 10,000 farmers in 11 districts such as Udaipur, Bhilwara, Jalore and Bikaner on 3300 hectares and the production is 60,000 quintals. Quinoa is called a superfood due to its nutritional value.

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