The Hindu Business Line : Bengal keen on French tech for food processing sector

AFTER progress in agriculture, West Bengal has decided to focus on agri-business and food processing, said Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, West Bengal Chief Minister.

The State has approached France for technology to facilitate value addition to its agri-produce, food processing and the marketing of processed foods.

The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that private sector initiatives in food processing must ensure job creation and farmers must get remunerative prices for their offerings.

He was delivering the inaugural address at a function on `France-West Bengal Collaboration in the Agro and Food Sector' organised here on Saturday by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Mr Bhattacharjee said that West Bengal produces plenty of vegetables, fruits, flowers and fish every year. The State annually produces 748,000 tonnes of tomato, 1.8 million tonnes (mt) of cabbage, 1.6 mt of cauliflower, 2.6 mt of brinjal and 0.5 mt each of mango and lichis. About 8-10 per cent of the agri-produce is wasted, owing to "inadequate processing facilities and market mechanisms."

"Exporting fresh fruits and vegetables is not enough. We need to add value before selling them in the domestic and overseas markets," he said, and urged the visiting French delegation to help put in place processing facilities and cold storage chains. He also called for French technology for the processing and export of marine products from West Bengal.

Even as he outlined the scope of agri-business and food processing in West Bengal, the Chief Minister stressed that the State cannot hand over a large chunk of land holdings to single individuals. "Ours is a poor country. We must protect the interest of small farmers," he said, adding that "food processing must create jobs."

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nicolas Forissier, Minister for Agriculture, Food Processing, Fisheries and Rural Affairs, the Government of France, said France is keen to carry forward collaboration efforts with West Bengal, especially in agro-processing and fisheries.

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