CEO of Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS) Y.S. Prasad has said that the State traditionally squandered the opportunities offered by the food processing sector, but the Food Processing Policy 2015-20 opened new vistas for prospective entrepreneurs.
The encouraging response evoked by the FPP is evident from the nearly Rs.3,500 crore investments that are in the pipeline.
“A high-level committee is evaluating up to 70 applications and sanctions will be made in the next couple of months,” Mr. Prasad has announced.
Addressing the media on Monday, Mr. Prasad said Andhra Pradesh was No.1 in the country in production of fruit, vegetables, milk, poultry, and fish, but the post-harvest loss, which was estimated at a staggering 30 per cent, inflicted heavy losses on the farmers.
Keeping this in view, emphasis was laid on strengthening the cold chain network and introducing technologies that keep the produce fresh for longer durations.
Mr. Prasad said seven applications were received for establishment of food parks in addition to three (Srini Food Park at Chittoor, Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park at Bhimavaram in West Godavari district, and another one coming up under the aegis of the APIIC in Krishna district) which were in different stages of execution.
Mr. Prasad further said that a ‘banana revolution’ was in the making in Anantapur, Kadapa, and Kurnool districts with Jain Irrigation Systems Limited playing the lead role. The districts were highly prone to desertification, but the intensive methods of growing fruit and vegetables with minimum use of water reaped rich dividends.
Incubators called Smart Agri Platform Network Areas (SAPNA) were being set up to strengthen production and marketing of agriculture and horticultural production.
Tuna fishingMr. Prasad said the government had placed ‘tuna fishing’ high on its agenda as it had tremendous potential abroad. These massive fish were available in huge quantities off the Visakhapatnam coast, he added.
Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation president-elect M. Murali Krishna and executive director P. Bhaskar Rao were present.
