The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Food processing industry to grow by 15 p.c.: survey

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 20, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Food processing industry to grow by 15 p.c.: survey

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB.19. The growth of the food processing industry in Andhra Pradesh during the next ten years is expected to be 15 per cent, driven mainly by export demand. The State will be the preferred destination for private investment, both domestic and international, according to the economic survey 2004-05 tabled in the Assembly by the Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah.

The survey report says the horticulture sector will account for 4.01 per cent of the State's agricultural GSDP and contribute to raising overall the per capita agricultural incomes. The present area under horticulture is 14.94 lakh hectares with an annual production of 113.64 lakh metric tonnes.

In forefront

The survey notes that Andhra Pradesh holds the first rank in area and production of mango, oilpalm, chillies, turmeric, second rank in citrus and coriander, third rank in cashew, fourth rank in flowers and fifth rank in grapes, banana, ginger and guava.

The Government has identified horticulture as one of the thrust areas in agriculture and is implementing number of programmes resulting in the generation of higher incomes in rural areas. The programmes improve the quality of life in villages, bridge the gap that exists in access to education, health and other services between rural and urban areas and creates gainful employment opportunities on self-sustaining basis.

Wide variety

Horticulture crops cover a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, tuber crops, mushrooms, floricultural, medicinal and aromatic plants, plantation crops, spices.

They provide a remunerative means for diversification of land use for improving the productivity and returns, providing nutritional security, increasing employment opportunities, providing raw materials for agro-processing industries.

The State is identified as horticultural bowl of India. It is synonymous with "Annapurna" the land of plentiful harvests on nutritional security. "It is a veritable `akshyapatra' or vessel of plenty of horticultural produce. With enterprising farming community, varied agro-climatic zones, variety of soil types coupled with endemic irrigation sources, the State is a front running producer of a variety of horticultural wealth," the report states.

The Horticulture department is implementing various schemes, both under the State and Central sectors with the main thrust on fruits and plantation crops, hybrid vegetable seed distribution, floriculture under controlled conditions.

Spices and condiments, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushroom cultivation, landscape and ornamental gardening, precision farming, post-harvest management, marketing, publicity, tissue culture, leaf analysis are also getting the due importance. A budget of Rs. 301.30 crores has been earmarked for these schemes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh