The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Food processing needs boost: Naik

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Food processing needs boost: Naik

Special Correspondent

State now processes only 4 per cent of its horticultural produce

BANGALORE: The growth of the food-processing industry in the State is dismal compared to the progress in U.S. and South-east Asian countries, according to Horticulture Minister Shashikanth Akkappa Naik.

Mr. Naik, who recently returned from a week-long U.S. tour, told presspersons here on Tuesday that only four per cent of the horticultural produce is being processed in the State, compared to 70 per cent in the U.S. and 40 per cent in Malaysia and the Philippines. The Horticulture Department would enter into a memorandum of understanding with Cornell University and Ithaca University of the U.S. for obtaining know-how in establishing and managing food-processing industries, harvesting, cold storages and marketing of products.

Mr. Naik said the U.S. produced 22 varieties of wine from grapes. There was a huge potential in the State to bring more area under grape cultivation and expand the wine market.

The Government had decided to establish two wine parks in the State, the Minister said.

D. Venkateshwara Rao, Principal Secretary, Department of Horticulture, and G.K. Vasanth Kumar, Director of Horticulture, who accompanied the Minister on the foreign tour, said the tour helped them understand the growth of technology in the food-processing industry.

In collaboration with Cornell University and Ithaca University, the State could revamp the Karnataka Horticulture Federation, the Horticulture Producers Cooperative Marketing Societies and procurement and marketing of products, they said.

Mr. Rao said the department had written to the Centre for permission to extend the National Horticulture Mission to 10 more districts. The mission was now limited to 15 districts.

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