West Bengal government prepared to meet all industry requirements: Abdur Rezzak Mollah

KOLKATA: As part of its vision to develop a globally competitive food processing industry in West Bengal, the state government is prepared to meet all requirements of the industry, especially in terms of infrastructure and logistics, said Mr Abdur Rezzak Mollah, minister for food processing industry & horticulture on Wednesday.

“We are fully aware that you will invest here not for charity, but with a profit motive. That’s fair. But please let us know what we can do to prompt you to make big investments. We try and meet your requirements,” the minister told a group of industry members at the CII-organised Food Processing Conclave – Opportunities in Bengal.

“Investing in Bengal, which boasts a long coastline, means you closest to a vast market which includes SAARC and South East Asian countries,” said Mr Mollah expressing a little surprise as to why big investments have yet to happen in this sector in the state.

He also said in a bid to develop a robust meat processing industry, the state government will give approval to five slaughter houses in municipalities adjacent to Kolkata. Not only fruits and vegetables, opportunities in marine products, bakery and confectionery are immense, he said, adding that “all you need to ensure is quality development.”

Mr Pradip Kumar Mazumdar, sdviser to the chief minister on agriculture & allied Sectors, said with two-thirds of the population in West Bengal living on agriculture, there is an urgent need for constructing right policies and a sound support system.

About 95% of the people engaged in agriculture are marginal farmers, and that explains why the State Government aims to transform farming into a vocation that is both economically viable and globally competitive, Mr Mazumdar said.

Ms Nandini Chakraborty, secretary to the horticulture & food processing department, urged industry members and academic institutions to provide inputs as to the Government can sensitize farmers on the benefits of market linkage and the need for improved cold storage facilities and post-harvest loss.

“Farmers are the worst sufferers of the vagaries of nature as well as the market. Please join the Government in its efforts to make farmers aware of the best agricultural practices,” Ms Chakraborty told the audience. She also added that the State Government is working on a new Horticulture and Food Processing Policy.