‘It can create 3.2l additional job opportunities in Uttarakhand’
An integrated approach to facilitate development of agriculture and food processing industry in Uttarakhand can create 3.20 lakh additional employment opportunities — about 30,000 direct and about 2.90 lakh indirect jobs in the State — in the next five years, according to a just-concluded study titled ‘Food Processing Opportunities in Uttarakhand,’ conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
“With the operation of two mega food parks, one in Haridwar and another in Udham Singh Nagar district expected to start within next 3-4 years, it is likely to contribute about Rs 6,000 crore (including ancillary and support unit’s contribution) to Uttarakhand’s gross state domestic product (GSDP),” highlighted the study.
“Promotion of food processing sector will emerge as the cornerstone to raise the contribution of agriculture and allied activities in Uttarakhand’s GSDP from prevailing level of 13 per cent to about 25 per cent over a ten-year period from now,” further noted the study that was jointly released by Mr P.K. Jain, chairman of ASSOCHAM’s National Council on MSMEs and chamber’s national secretary general, Mr D.S. Rawat at a press conference held here in Dehradun today.
“We at ASSOCHAM have created a Special Cell on Uttarakhand to mobilize investments and technology in the food processing sector to get at least 50 new companies for setting up their units in the state. Besides, the chamber shall also impart training to new entrepreneurs and promoting on-farm processing technology,” informed Mr Rawat.
“In its efforts to promote food processing industry in Uttarakhand, ASSOCHAM is also going to hold an ‘Agri & Food Processor Conclave: Opportunities, Finance, Technology & Market,’ on Nov 27 at Rudrapur,” he added.
Apart from private capital and working capital needs that are met by banks and financial institutions, government should pump in at least Rs 1,500 crore in addition to the existing incentives and subsidy schemes in building necessary infrastructure by way of roads, uninterrupted power supply for food processing units, rural storage close to supply centres and others, noted the study prepared by the ASSOCHAM Economic Research Bureau (AERB).
The Uttarakhand Government should invest more in creating modern storage, link roads in hills/rural areas to reduce wastages and also encourage processing units to set up their facilities close to producing centres which will further reduce wastages, suggested the chamber’s study.
Besides, another advantage being enjoyed by agriculture sector in Uttarakhand is that about 73 per cent of land under cultivation is being held by medium and large farmers who can generate agricultural surplus, invest in value addition.