Srinagar, Oct 18: Saying that agro- based industry is an encouraging economic activity, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir Tuesday said that climatic conditions and favorable input facilities like availability of water, hybrid seeds and fertilizers are key factors that promise good prospects for the entrepreneurs.
 The Minister was addressing the entrepreneurs at the inaugural function of one day workshop on “Food  and Agri Processors Conclave- Linking clusters to market”  organized by Directorate of Extension Education in collaboration with ASSOCHAM, New Delhi &  Union Ministery of Food Processing Industries today.
 Mir said that lack of processing facilities for the produce is one of the bottlenecks for the development of this industry and added that government is giving thrust to set up more and more processing units across the state for which incentives are being provided to the entrepreneurs under various schemes. He said that processing and value addition to fruits and vegetable will not only improve income opportunities but also generate viable means of direct and indirect employment in both on-farm and off farm sectors.
 The processing of fruits into pulp and juice has huge market , the Minister asked the private enterprise to come and tap this huge space and appealed the relevant market players, who are attending this event, to invest in the process and add value to this segment leading to win-win situation for all the stake holders. He said that “we have not yet made any foray into the processing of medicinal plants” and time has come to tap the huge market in this area. Similarly, the value addition in dry fruits for better price realization has not been achieved for want of public investment.
 Vice Chancellor SKUAST (K), Dr Tej Partap threw light on various aspects on the topic and gave some valuable suggestions for strengthening the budding entrepreneurs of agriculture.
 Vice Chairman KCCI, Nazir Ahmad Wani highlighted the bottlenecks which are impediments for its growth in valley.
 Director Extension Dr Afifa Kamli and  O S  Taggi also spoke on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST