Jan 23, 2020
The food processing ministry has big plans in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) and Ladakh and to put big investment and job there plans it plans to hold road shows and summits in the two new Union territories. .
FPI also wants to develop the food processing and agriculture activities in the two UTs.
“Ladakh and J&K has the best quality fruits and vegetables and the FPI wants to contribute at sustainable development of the region and hence exploring opportunities to strengthen the infrastructure, encourage entrepreneurs from the region and help food processing units with various central schemes,” said Reema Prakash, joint secretary at ministry of food processing industries.
J&K has nearly 50 processing units and Ladakh and a mega food park in J&K. “We have identified clusters of apples, walnuts, sea buckthorn, saffron and apricots. Simultaneously our efforts are to reach out to UT officials and entrepreneurs from the region and depending on the proposals and viability, we will set up more food parks and support infrastructure,” said Reema Prakash, joint secretary at ministry of food processing industries.
Many Indian and foreign companies have shown interest in procuring fruits and vegetables from the region and FPI has been connecting them to self-help groups, entrepreneurs and cooperatives in the region.
The LuLu Group from the UAE has started procuring apples, saffron and walnuts from J&K for their national as well as international market.
According to the FPI government officials, farmers, SHGs and farmers producers’ organisations were enthusiastic about the various opportunities that the food processing sector would bring to the region.
In its first interaction with the various stakeholders, the ministry partnered with Department of Industries & Commerce, Ladakh and Invest India, the national investment promotion & facilitation agency, in Leh recently for the Ladakh Food Processing Summit.
Ministry is also focusing on organic products grown in the region which has a good demand in national as well as international markets.