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Imphal hosts MoFPI-organised conclave to promote Kisan Sampada Yojana
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Thursday, 28 June, 2018, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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A one-day food processing conclave, whose theme was Awareness and upgrade of technology and promotion of Kisan Sampada Yojana, took place in Imphal recently. It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur.
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, minister of state for food processing industries, Government of India, was the chief guest for the conclave.
In her address, she stated that the main objective of the government was to double the incomes of farmers. “No farmer in any state should be left behind, especially Manipur, since the state has a rich soil,” she added.
“MoFPI has been progressing in the last few years. There are many schemes such as mega food park, cold chain, Kisan Sampada Yojana and backward power linkage,” Jyoti said.
“Although it is difficult to earmark 50 acre of land for a food park in some places in every state, the ministry has proposed, through the Cabinet, for small units after proper identification, and if the food park cannot be set up in 12 acre of land, the same land can use to set up a cold chain that deals directly with the farmers,” the minister added.
Jyoti also declared that the ministry was providing 35 per cent subsidy for Meghalaya and 75% for Manipur. Of that only 25 per cent would be borne by the beneficiaries.
Stressing that there were certain factors like willingness of the government, condition of the industry, water, electricity, etc. that were to be provided by the government, she added that because the state was the gateway to the Asian Highway, the ministry was ready to provide and assist in making the Kisan Sampada Yojana a success.
Thongam Biswajit Singh, minister for commerce and industries, Government of Manipur, was the guest of honour. He said the state was moving forward in every field.
“Though the state is small as compared to others, it has good climatic conditions, fertile land, water and natural resources, especially in the agriculture and horticulture areas,” he added.
“Unfortunately, the food products have to be imported from a neighbouring country. Due to the lack of means of preservation of food products, as well as due to the lack of adequate marketing facilities in the state, perishable products go wasted,” Singh said.
He added, “If the state has cold chains, 40 per cent of the food can be saved from getting wasted. This can be sold in markets, benefiting the farmers.”
To enable the entrepreneurs to sell their products online, the minister requested the ministry to reduce the loan compound interest of the entrepreneurs.
The conclave was organised to promote and uplift the food processing industries in the North-Eastern state and also to encourage home food processing units.
The state has fertile soil, leading to surplus production. However, due to the lack of cold chain facilities, the surplus production goes wasted. The government of India has taken a number of strategies and initiatives to encourage investment in food processing units.
The function was also attended by J Suresh Babu, chief secretary, Manipur, who was the special guest; P Vaiphei, principal secretary, trade, commerce and industries, Government of Manipur; C Arthur Worchuiyo, director, trade, commerce and industries, Government of Manipur, and Madhuparna Bhowmick, additional director, Indian Chamber of Commerce.
Later, in the technical session, C A Srinivassamurthy, director, research, CAU, Manipur; Danie Shalie, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur; Y Raj Kumar, assistant general manager (AGM), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Manipur; S K Singsit, United Bank of India, and Thangjam Joykumar Singh, managing director, Thangjam Agro Industries Pvt Ltd, presented papers as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana as resource persons.
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