By 121 News
Chandigarh 01st July:- There is an imperative and urgent need of the Government of India and its related agencies and the Punjab Government to work aggressively and remove the existing disconnect between the farmers and the market which includes the Govt and private procurement agencies, if we have to improve the fate of the farmers. This was stated by Suresh Kumar, Addl Chief Secretary & Financial Commissioner- Development, Punjab at an Outreach Program for Agro & Food Processing Industry organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) at CII here today.
Suresh Kumar said that we understand that our farmers are going through a very tough phase and we are fully with you in these tough times, he shared while addressing hundreds of participants from different departments of Punjab Government, industry, farmers and other millers associations. Lamenting further on the vicious circle of farmers' poor condition existing across the country, he added that "It is so very depressing and disheartening that, at times the farmers have to cry in fields if there is low production owing to drought or untimely rains. And if the farmers are happy in the fields i.e the production is healthy, they have to cry in the market, because their produce doesn't get them the desired price owing to huge supply and lesser demand and inadequate infrastructure and marketing facilities available. He also called for self-imposed regulations by farmers. "I would however request the farmers to follow our guidelines on the timing of sowing of crops, its harvest, judicious use of pesticides and weedicides so as to maintain minimum global standards for better price and profits. I would also urge farmers to just do farming and not mining on the soil, i.e avoid excessive cultivation and undue burden on it", he added.
Regarding Punjab's contribution in processed food industry, he mentioned that "Only 15 % of our produce is processed and even being the food bowl of the country, we are the net importer of wheat. Value addition of the farm produce would benefit the state in tremendous ways. There is immense untapped potential in Punjab for processed food industry in the fields of maize, fruit juices, vegetables, honey, potato chips, dairy products, basmati etc. it would help the cause of the farmer as well. The government is fully committed to promote processed food industry in Punjab and our fiscal incentives in this regard include VAT exemption for 10 years which would lead to break even of all capital investment for plants in 10 years. We have also planned 2 mega food parks in Punjab.
Krishan Kumar, Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) shared that india is the 6th largest exporter of farm produce commodities but we are far behind as far as processed food is concerned. The processed food industry has incredible potential and scope in Punjab and needs a strong push. And if it prospers here, Punjab's economy prosper as a whole. APEDA is fully committed to promote Agri exports and we have various schemes in association with the state government to set up various food processing plants across Punjab. He added that regarding the non-tariff barriers, he mentioned that "Our farmers and the industry need to ensure that the farm produce satisfy the minimum standards of quality so that other countries do not reject our commodities on the basis of standards.
S S Bhogal, Chairman, CII Punjab State Council & Managing Partner, Bhogal Sales Corporation shared that "As this region, better known as the Food Bowl of the country is today at cross roads because of increasing input costs, inclement weather patterns and experts dwelling on the need to break from the traditional wheat & paddy cycle and enhance value addition so as to make farming & food industry a viable option for people associated with this critical sector. CII is all geared up to actively partner with the farmers, govt and the industry to promote the food processing sector.
No comments:
Post a Comment