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Sikkim submits subsidy proposal to PMO to promote food processing units
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Monday, 27 March, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The government of Sikkim has proposed to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the ministries of agriculture and food processing industries to enhance subsidy relating to food processing, logistics and post-harvest to a minimum of Rs 100 crore for the entire north-eastern region to promote industrial activities in these areas. This was stated by Khorlo Bhutia, principal secretary, horticulture and cash crop development department, Government of Sikkim.
Inaugurating the Outreach Awareness Programme on Cold Chain under the aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he also announced that the government of Sikkim has also urged the PMO and other relevant departments in the Central government to extend substantial financial support to the government of Sikkim or dairy development, as it would lead to cow protection. Cow manure would be useful to enable the state to retain its organic nature.
Bhutia said, “Cow protection is critical in a state like Sikkim to retain the fertility of its land and soil to go on producing organic produce for its people and export purposes, because with their manure, the state would carry on the fertility of its land and soil as it has already emerged the only organic state in the country.”
Elaborating on the subsidy factor for food processing units, the logistics industry and post-harvest techniques, he added that currently, subsidies to promote these industries in the north-east amounted to Rs 13 crore per annum, which was peanuts.
“Therefore, a proposal has already been submitted to the PMO and the ministries of agriculture and food processing, and the cabinet is likely to dispose off this proposal shortly, as indications to this effect have already reached the north-eastern states, including Sikkim,” Bhutia said.
“With higher subsidies, the farmers of the north-east will not only be able to increase their agricultural and horticultural production, but also gain higher returns on their production, because a number of industries would come up in these areas, which would also increase local entrepreneurship,” he pointed out.
He also said that the government of Sikkim will shortly launch a cashless agri and horticultural programme worth Rs 150 crore to promote cash crops in the state in the next few weeks. Under the programme, the cultivation of cardamom, ginger, turmeric and the like will increase. This programme will be launched by the chief minister of Sikkim.
K D Bhattacharya, deputy director, MSME Development Institute, Kolkata, said, “The Ministry of MSME has several subsidised programmes and schemes to support for the prosperity of local entrepreneurs in Sikkim and urged them to take advantage of them to hike organic produce in the state for domestic consumption as also export.”
Ranjeet Mehta, director, PHD Chamber, appreciated the efforts of the state government to invite investment in the state, as with this, enterprise in the state will grow and so will employment.
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