KOCHI: The sops announced in the Budget for the agriculture and MSME sectors have come at a time when they are gearing up for a quantum leap.
On realising that the traditional methods of selling agricultural produces are untenable and the benefits of value-addition, the Industries Department and Agriculture Department have already set in motion various projects for the farmer community and small entrepreneurs.
The focus is on providing safe and ready-to-use products made from coconut, rice, rubber, honey, banana and spices to retail outlets in the state.
In November, the Department had announced a project to build 14 ‘agro parks,’ with the aim of promoting food processing and value-addition. In the 2016-17 Budget, the government earmarked `500 crore for the project.
“Since the traditional methods of agriculture do not ensure sustainability, marketing of products should rise to the next level and the focus should shift towards value-addition. Value-addition in the coconut sector is 4-5 per cent in Kerala, much lower than 25 per cent in Karnataka,” said Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar.
According to him, the proposed agro parks will play a pivotal role in bringing the benefits of value-addition to farmers. The overwhelming response to the Jackfruit Festival conducted last year has prompted the Industries Department to organise more events to bring together the stakeholders in the food/agro industry.
“At the ongoing Kerala Agro Food Pro-2017, products made from fruits, vegetables and spices are showcased,” said Ernakulam District Industries Centre general manager K N Krishnakumar.
“The event acts as a platform for manufacturers, vendors, exporters and technology providers in the agriculture sector to share their ideas. It helps entrepreneurs interact directly with buyers and learn more about the trends, technologies and manufacturing solutions,” he said.
According to him, the state has three lakh registered food processing units, employing 13 lakh people, with a total investment of `17,000 crore.