KL Report
JAMMU
Minister of State for Industries & Commerce, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo Monday underlined the significance of food processing industry and stated the sector has the potential to become beacon of industrial development in the State.
The Minister said this while inaugurating a Seminar on “National Mission on Food Processing and Capacity Building”, which was attended by over 100 entrepreneurs at Riviera Inn, here.
The programme is being organized by SIDCO in association with National Skills Foundation of India to make entrepreneurs aware about National Mission on Food Processing and to train and sensitize them on vital issues related to food processing.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister emphasized the need to provide fillip to the food processing sector by making certain technical interventions to boost the industry. “The topography of the State is conducive to support food processing industry provided we make a few effective technical interventions. Capacity building and use of modern technology can go a long way in the growth of food sector in the State,” he added.
The Minister also emphasized huge potential the sector offers in terms of employment generation. “The Food Processing Sector contributes 7 per cent to the country’s GDP and provides employment to about 13 million people directly,” he said, asking youth to lap up the opportunities of both skilled and unskilled jobs that are on offer in the growing sector.
Referring to the strong advantages the State has in terms of climate and soil, the Minister urged the prospective entrepreneurs to focus attention on fruit processing sector. “J&K is the highest temperate fruit producing state in the country. After tourism, the fruit industry is the most important industry in the State. So we have no dearth of quality raw material available with us,” the Minister said, adding the diverse agro-climatic conditions facilitate growth of different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Calling upon the participants to make use of the training to be imported by experts in food processing during various Technical Sessions, the Minister said under National Mission on Food Processing, funding and loans to set up new food processing units and modernization of existing units will be provided.
Commissioner/Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Shant Manu, Director, Union Ministry of Agriculture, Ravi Kumar, CEO of National Skill Development Foundation, Satyendra Arya, Director Industries & Commerce, Jammu, Gulzar Qureshi, MD SIDCO, Mohammad Muazzam and MDs of J&K Cements, SICOP, JKI, EDI & KVIB were present on the occasion.
