The demand for processed food is all set to grow, as rapid urbanisation and globalisation are changing the lifestyle and food habits of people, and hence the focus should shift towards the food processing sector, Associate Director of Research, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Anakapalle, K. Veerabhadra Rao, has said.
He was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural of the two-day national-level conference on ‘Emerging trends in value addition to plants and plant products’, being held by St. Joseph’s College for Women in association with RARS, here on Thursday.
The green revolution, the white revolution (milk production), and the blue revolution (aqua and fishery culture) had given good results and made the nation not only self sufficient but also put it among the top producers of agriculture products, milk, and fish.
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“Similarly, food processing sector should be given a fillip,” he said.
Inaugurating the conference, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju said that IT industry should play a major role in the agriculture sector.
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“Prior information to farmers on aspects such as monsoon, flood, and drought, can work wonders. And the IT sector should be able to deliver,” he said.
Quoting former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he said, “It was time we provided urban facilities in the rural areas.”
Convener of the conference and HoD of Botany of the college K. Manikya Kumari said over 150 delegates from various scientific institutions, faculty members, and research scholars would deliberate during the two days on how to increase production within the limited resources and what was to be done to improve soil condition.
College principal Sr. Shyji and president Sr. Vianney spoke.