The Honourable Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said, that, there is a need to overcome the difficulties arising out of non-availability of appropriate statistical data pertaining to food and agriculture sector; there is a need for effecting change in certain traditional habits of farmers to some extent; study the advantages and disadvantages of every farmer preferring same crop; greater results could be achieved if farmer is brought into organised sector; the state need to be divided into crop colonies, the entire crop produced by farmer shall be sold on demand; through the food processing units proposed to be established by the state government branded unadulterated products should come out and farmer should prefer a crop in a regulated manner. The CM said, that, crores of people are dependent on agriculture and horticulture in the state and hence these two departments should work to fulfill the needs and aspiration of them. The CM further said, that,in agriculture, horticulture, food processing and in exports of processed food products Telangana should be on top among all other states in the country. The CM said that Telangana stands first in the country and is a role model for the cause of farmer.
The CM held a high-level review meeting in Pragathi Bhavan on Monday afternoon on various aspects of food processing industry, the process to follow in future in establishing them, involving IKP-women groups in food processing industry and exporting different types of agriproducts to other states and countries.
Chief Advisor to Government Rajiv Sharma, Advisor Anurag Sharma, Chief Secretary SK. Joshi, CMO officers S Narsing Rao, Smita Sabarwal, Principal Secretaryof Finance Rama Krishna Rao, Principal Secretary for Agriculture Parthasarathy, Principal Secretary for Industries Jayesh Ranjan, DGP Mahender Reddy, TSIIC Chairman Bala Mallu Whip Palle Rajeshwar Reddy, MLC Srinivas Reddy, Former Minister Cheruku Muthyam Reddy, MLAs Maheswar Reddy, Anand and agriculture and horticulture officers.
“This meeting is basically not for taking a decision right now across the table but only to come to an understanding on issues connected to food processing. Unfortunately, in the absence of appropriate statistical data it is becoming difficult to take decisions. We need data on the amount of rice produced, fruits produced, domestic food needs of people etc. If only agriculture, horticulture and other connected departments were hand in hand then only we will get good results. We need to think as to what to be done for this. Dissatisfaction in any in the farmers will be totally done away when this happens as a first step towards this Rythu Samanvaya Samithis have been formed. The member needs to be trained now. The agriculture extension officers have also been recruited. Rectification and purification of land records has been done and the extent of agriculture land is identified now we need to ensure minimum support price for the agriculture product. All this is a cycle and chain process and if the institutions are improved through this there is nothing like that” said the CM.
“if every farmer prefers the similar crop then there are problems. The farmer needs to be educated against this. They need to be a change in certain traditional habits of farmer, there need to be experienced sharing on the advantages and disadvantages of every farmer preferring the similar crop. The experience of Mulkanuru village should be emulated. Their through cooperative model and through bringing the farmer into organised sector excellent results were achieved. If we can create confidence in the farmer for which we should take a pledge that they would be benefited if they change their mind set it would give excellent results. I met agriculture economist Ashok Gulati in my recent visit to Delhi and invited them to the state to conduct workshop on these issues for which he has agreed and will be visiting the state shortly” said the CM.
“The state shall be divided definitely into various crop colonies, the entire crop produced by farmer shall be sold on demand. We need to know our domestic food needs. After understanding the mind of the farmer about the preference of a particular crop, instead of bringing pressure on him we should educate him to go for an alternate crop phase wise. Agri products should be in tune with village needs as well as the needs of town and the cities. It is unfortunate that we import from mother states vegetables even products like Coriander leaves (kothimeera) and Cumin (Jeera). We should grow vegetable in the urban agglomeration by next rainy season we get water from kaleswaram project through which additional ayacut will come under cultivation. In the next two years most of the irrigation project will be completed bringing more than a crore of acres under cultivation. Ground water levels will be increased. The tanks will be filled with water, against this background the farmers are to be educated about the appropriate crop which he should prefer “said the CM. Any agriculture product will get more price only with value addition through food processing like powder from mirchi. In these days every product is being adulterated if we can establish a brand name to products produced through government sponsored food processing units and create a confidence among the buyers then it will give good results. For this we need to establish food processing industries. We should translate our ideas into action and execute them. We need to decide has to how many food processing units are to be started in a particular area as well as the number of such units. The products after consumed for the domestic needs are to be exported to other states and countries in this entire process the IKP-women group members are to be involved. We need to study to what extent they can be involved. Our country with 130 crore people with a big domestic market and we should make proper use of it. After deciding has to which crop is not produced in a particular state and analysing the results, we should be able to grow it in our state subject to the climatic conditions. By this the for-processing products are to be produced. We should also study the best practices in food processing industry of other states and abroad establish so that we may adopt the suiting the climatic conditions of the state.
“We should take care that farmers prefer a particular crop in a regulated manner. The agriculture department should know as to what seed is sow in every inch of land. Quality seeds are to be supplied to the farmer. There should be terrific research in the agriculture university, it is unfortunate that in the international market there is not enough of demand for Indian agriculture products. Efforts are to be made to overcome this. Every village shall produce the vegetables required for that village. This culture has to be promoted. The surplus to be supplied to the urban areas” said the CM.
The CM said that the state economic growth is excellent and has been registering consistently on an average 17.01 % growth rate during the last four years. He said this financial year so far, the state own tax revenue growth rate registered 29.97%. He said we are also number one in the country in the GSDP. The CM said that during the next five years the government would spend Rs 10 lakh crore and hence we should grow more. The CM told the officers that we should start thinking out of box way and obtain better results. He said that against the background of todays discussion the officers should move forward and share the ideas, best practices and then arrive at a decision.
The CM said that food processing should be a combined effort in which IKP- women group members and others are to be involved and should be engaged in the positive line. The CM suggested that to begin with 6 to 7 Mandals are to be taken as a pilot and a make a success story by involving all the stakeholders like IKP groups. He said that todays proposed agenda to be followed by big brainstorming and series of workshops. The CM said that the officers should also study all the schemes on food processing at government of India level as well as try to download some international best practices and experiences. The CM said that the government is ready to spend any amount of money for learning. For successful food processing units to be started, the CM told the officers to go to any part of the world for learning the best practices. He suggested that the 45 lakh members of IKP belonging to 4.1 lakh groups should be given vigoroustraining to begin with.
CM suggested to establish crop colonies, regulating seed companies, prohibit the sale of spurious seeds, make available seeds, fertilizers and pesticides. CM said to develop an action plan to provide plantation machines, weeding machines, machines for turmeric farmers. In the back drop of the discussion held in the review meeting it is decided to prepare an action plan on food processing. The CM described it as a beginning of revolution in food processing and let us make it a success.
