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Our Bureau

Kochi , Sept. 5

The Kerala Government proposes to develop an agro food processing industrial park at Wayanad as a world-class infrastructure facility with the support and assistance of Union Ministry of Food Processing and Industries, Mr Elamaram Kareem, the State Industries Minister has said.

Speaking at an interactive session on food processing jointly organised by Kinfra and Malabar Chamber of Commerce at Kozhikode, the Minister said that the agro food park at Wayanad is a broad concept taking into consideration a holistic view for the entire chain, from farm to fork and it will offer integrated backward and forward linkages, post-harvest management facilities etc.

The agro food processing industrial park will be developed through Kinfra as a specific policy initiative to attract large and medium scale food processing industries in the State, the Minister said.

Mr Kareem pointed out that Kerala has tremendous potential to become the dream zone in food processing considering the huge domestic market it offers to this sector. At present, the State is exporting about 25,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables, which offers an excellent opportunity for the production of quality fruits and vegetables in the State.

For leveraging this advantage, he said appropriate infrastructure for post harvest management has to be put in place with the help of private sector initiative. Productivity can be improved only if investment is attracted to the agri-industrial sector for providing the appropriate backward and forward linkages.

The State has a network of vibrant business co-operative institutions. These institutions should be encouraged to create infrastructure facilities and also invest in value addition of the food produce. They should also be encouraged to join hands with private sector for effective management of these facilities. The State Government would facilitate private sector investment in creating food processing infrastructure and value addition through processing and facilitating marketing of these products in domestic and international market. A farmer-corporate partnership has become imperative to revolutionise agro food processing sector in the State, he added. Mr T. Balakrishnan, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, Mr P. I. Suvarthan, Secretary Union Ministry of Food processing, Mr M. V. Shreyams Kumar, MLA, Mr Krishna Prasad MLA, Mr A. S. Sureh Babu, MD Kinfra spoke on the occasion.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Foods & Food Processing | Industrial Policy | Kerala

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