Telangana bets big on food processing sector.

The Telangana government plans to put greater emphasis on value-addition in the farm sector in its industrial policy.

Among the identified 'core sectors' for boosting industrial activity in the state this year, the government would push for attracting huge investments in food processing and agro-based industries.

'New initiatives would be taken to achieve higher value-addition in food processing and agro-based industries as this alone would help farmers unlock higher realisation for the produce and for sustained income,' said K Pradeep Chandra, state special secretary and commissioner for industrial promotion.

The departments of industry and commerce, agriculture and agri marketing would coordinate together to achieve value maximisation for farmers, he added.

He also said the state would also support those who plan to invest in setting up common facilities in the mega food park at Nandipet in Nizamabad district. Spread across 374 acres, Phase-I of the park would come up on 100 acres housing commonly-shared infrastructure facilities ranging from cold storage to food packaging units being built on a hub-and-spoke model.

Chandra said the proposed 'very large' agro processing facility in the state by diversified FMCG major, ITC Limited, would offer significant investment opportunities for smaller firms in the food processing value chain.

BS