“Food Processing Industries generate more job opportunities”-Governor

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, November 28th, 2018: Governor of Manipur, Dr. Najma Heptulla today has said that Food Processing Industry has emerged as one of the major employment intensive industries and important segments in terms of its contribution to the State’s economy.

She was speaking as Chief Guest at the inaugural function of a Conference on ‘Startup and MSME’s in Food Processing’, organized by ASSOCHAM in association with Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India and Indian council of agriculture research (ICAR)-NEH at Hotel Classic Imphal.

She said that the MSMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) cater as ancillary to several big industries and amongst them, the food processing industry dominates the Indian economy to a greater extent. She added that the Food Processing Industry serves as a vital link between agriculture and industrial segments of the economy.

Manipur being home to different varieties of fruits, vegetables and other agro products, it provides immense opportunities in food processing in the State including ample scope for export. She added that if properly harvested, processed and packaged fruits and vegetables of the State will have good marketing value in both domestic and international market.

Governor said that utilization of technological and innovation can help flourish the agro-based economy. For bringing advance development of food processing industry in the State, she emphasized the need of creating facilities for primary and secondary processing in the region by infusion of proper technology for successful implementation of food processing enterprises. She said that proper marketing links between farmers and manufacturers have to be established along with the technological support.

To have a balanced and holistic development of the economy it is essential that the micro, small or medium industries should co-exist with the big ones. She said that the micro and small industries particularly need to be nurtured with Government support in the form of financial assistance for term loan, working capital, machinery and technology up gradation, quality and efficiency improvement, Intellectual Property Rights registration and credit rating. She also highlighted the need to create awareness of the Central Sponsored Scheme by making it available in the local dialects.

Appreciating the conference, she said that sensitizing the budding and prospective entrepreneurs about Government Schemes and Markets is a welcome move. She expressed that it is necessary to diagnose the problems in the State for providing an improved production and marketing environment and value-added economic benefits to the farmers through appropriate science and technological policies for various post-harvest functions in food processing industries. Lauding ASSOCHAM she said that it has been supporting budding entrepreneurs through several incentives and schemes for the development of food processing industry in various parts of the country, especially in the North East.

In his presidential speech Deputy Chief Minister Shri Yumnam Joykumar Singh emphasized on the importance of bio-technology and crop rotation in the agricultural and horticultural product. He said that bio-technology is one of the aspects that could help increase in crops production or fruits yields with crop rotation helping the soil regaining its fertility. He stressed that development of the Secondary sector is a must to enable contribution in the economy of the state.

Principal Secretary, (Hort. & SC) Shri J. C. Ramthanga, officials of the Manipur Rural Bank, Manipur Small farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium, NABARD, MSME (DI), SBI, NEDFI, Regional Centre Organic Farming, Manipur. SIDBI, Manipur and entrepreneurs attended the inaugural of the conference.