LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Wednesday claimed that Rs. 500 crore worth of investment proposals had been received for the food processing industry in the State in the last two years.

Addressing a press conference, State Chief Secretary N.C. Bajpai, Agriculture Production Commissioner Anis Ansari, Industrial Development Commissioner Atul Kumar Gupta and Principal Secretary (Food Processing) Jayati Chandra said Rs. 430-crore investment had been received for grain-based processing facilities, including flour mills, and Rs. 70 crore for other processing facilities.

Mr. Bajpai painted a grim picture of the food processing sector in the State and said that as compared to the national average of 28 per cent, only 3 per cent of the agriculture produce was being processed whereas 25 per cent was rendered as waste. The Chief Secretary said concerted efforts have to be made to tackle the wastage as well as infuse value addition in the food processing industry. The Agriculture Production Commissioner said 21 per cent of the State's income accrued from the farm sector while 79 per cent was contributed by the manufacturing and service sectors. Mr. Ansari said though 74 per cent of the State's population was dependant on agriculture, the per capita income of the rural people was less as compared to those in manufacturing and service sectors of the economy. He said that in such an adverse scenario food processing industry was the only answer to reverse the trend.

The APC said the next wave of development in the farm sector would relate to value addition to different agricultural commodities produced in the State.

Meanwhile, the State Government will host a two-day national seminar on "strengthening of food processing and marketing facilities in Uttar Pradesh" this coming Friday and Saturday. The seminar will be inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Development Council chairman Amar Singh and the valedictory function will be addressed by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

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