Bright prospects for food processing industry in AP

Tirupati: The future belongs to food processing industry and most preferential destination of it is undoubtedly Andhra Pradesh in the country, said the CEO of ‘AP Food Processing Society’ (APFPS) YS Prasad. He was addressing a regional conference on food processing industry organised by AP Chamber of Commerce and Industry Federation here on Tuesday. 

Stressing the importance of the sector, Prasad said, as the life style is changing people have no time even to cook and they have no option but to move towards processed foods. “Organic farming is coming like a tsunami because of increased awareness on the evil effects of pesticides on vegetables. Processed vegetables and foods will have more demand in the future,” he maintained.

Accordingly, the government has stepped in with a policy to motivate entrepreneurs in this sector. Prasad added that the Chief Minister wants AP to have a best policy in food processing sector. Towards this goal, ‘Park’ concept was introduced which consists of a group of industries.

Anyone can establish an industry in the sector in any extent of land depending on the requirement of the unit they want to start. If they do not have land, they can start their unit in parks. Several such parks were already started functioning including Vaishnavi food park in Kuppam. 

He explained that these will have cold storage, warehouse, power, water etc. However in parks, one has to take the land on lease from the park developer and it will not be sold. The entrepreneurs will get 25-50 per cent incentives if they start a unit in food processing sector. The park developers will get Rs 20-50 crore grant to start the park with certain conditions.

The CEO said, Rayalaseema region was more convenient to start a food processing industry. “The region produces 8 lakh tonnes of papaya, 15 lakh tonnes of ground nut and 9 lakh tonnes of mango per year. Pomegranate production is also increasing.

If industries to produce processed foods with these pulp they will flourish,” he observed. Also, millets related products will have bright future. He, however, told that before starting an industry one must be aware of raw material availability without which industry will not succeed. 

The General Manager of District Industries Centre Anil Kumar Reddy and Zonal Manager of APIIC Lacchi Ram Naik also spoke. President of AP Chamber of Commerce G Sambasiva Rao, General Secretary Parthasarathi, Tirupati Chamber of Commerce President A Manjunath and others took part. About 300 entrepreneurs from the districts of Rayalaseema and Nellore have attended the meeting.