The governor of Nagaland has pitched to government and
community stakeholders the potential the state has in building a
food-processing industry. PB Acharya said on Friday that Nagaland was rich in
natural food crops which, he said, offers substantial business opportunities
for the industry-deficient state.
Governor PB Acharya was addressing the inaugural program of a conference on linking prospective food entrepreneurs with government schemes and markets. The event, conducted in Medziphema, under Dimapur, was organized by the ASSOCHAM and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
Acharya expounded Nagaland as a state endowed with a wealth of fruit, vegetable and other agro-products. Nagaland has potential to be a ‘sunrise zone’ for food processing and other agri-businesses if only proper mechanisms based on knowledge and technologies were established, he said.
The governor pointed to ‘immense business opportunity’ in processing fresh fruits, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, spices and herbs. Acharya has suggested creating primary and secondary processing sectors in the region by infusing ‘proper technology.’ Also, he suggested ‘proper marketing linkages between farmers and manufacturers with technological support.’
The governor lamented that the state’s agro-based economy failed to flourish due to ‘limited utilization of technology and innovation.’ He has suggested ‘diagnosing the problems to provide an improved production and marketing environment and value-added economic benefits to the farmers. It can be achieved through appropriate science and ‘technological policies for various post-harvest functions in food processing industries,’ he said. Likewise, he has suggested addressing the problem concerning income-generation and poverty-alleviation in the region as part of the process.
 |
PB Acharya releasing a book during the conference in the Medziphema campus of Nagaland University on August 12. |
The senior director of ASSOCHAM, Dr. OMS Tyagi, said in his address that the government of India had been supporting budding entrepreneurs through several incentives and schemes for the development of the food-processing industry in various parts of the country.
This is especially so in the northeast region, he said.
The program coordinator of the Phek KVK, Dr. RK Singh, said in his address that was ‘a huge scope’ and opportunity for food processing industries, especially in north east region. The ministry has been implementing central schemes in the northeast to providing modern infrastructure to aid food processing industries and also to develop the food processing sector in the state, he said.
Also, HC Biswas, the assistant general manager of the NABARD, Nagaland office, said that the northeastern region with its agro-friendly climate and agrarian roots has potential in food processing and other agriculture businesses. The weather and the availability of water are conducive for food cultivation and especially suitable for horticulture, he explained.
He has also suggested on the need for partnerships for training and competence building, marketing, processing, projects and infrastructure development to accelerate growth and development of food processing sector in the region, which could lead to more jobs, incomes and opportunities for the people of the region
Prof. BK Konwar, the vice chancellor of Nagaland University, said that agriculture was the main occupation for majority of the region’s population. Horticulture is an important sector and a major contributor to the economy of the region’s states, he said.
He said, ‘Food processing industry, especially agro-horticultural based ones, has been identified as a thrust area of development; bamboo, fruits and vegetables like banana, pineapple, orange, papaya, lemon, potato, sweet potato, tapioca chilies, turmeric, onion, ginger, bamboo shoot and jack fruit have good marketing scope in the region too if properly harvested, processed and packaged.’
Pointing out that surplus produce often go to waste due to lack of transportation, well-equipped cold storage facilities and processors, he urged the members to look for solution to addressing said issues.
(Al Ngullie, August 12, 2016; Eastern Mirror)
No comments:
Post a Comment