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70% workforce to be women at Nutraj's new state-of-the-art dryfruit plant in Samba
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Tuesday, 10 June, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Abhitash Singh, Mumbai
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In a landmark development for the Indian food processing industry and women’s empowerment, VKC Nuts Pvt. Ltd., under its flagship brand Nutraj, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art dryfruit and nuts processing unit in Samba, Jammu & Kashmir. Notably, the company has announced that 70% of its workforce will comprise women, setting a strong precedent for gender-inclusive employment in India’s agri-processing sector.
Inaugurated by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, the facility is expected to generate over 400 direct jobs, significantly boosting local livelihoods in the region. The unit will handle high-quality processing of almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, raisins, and other value-added nut products, equipped with cutting-edge automation and food safety standards.
“This is the first-of-its-kind facility in a border area, and it is proof of our administration’s commitment to promote industrial development and empower women in rural belts,” said Lt Governor Sinha during his address at the inauguration. “This unit will not only provide jobs but will uplift the socio-economic conditions of families by increasing disposable incomes.”
Gagan Jain, director, VKC Nuts Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the company’s commitment to regional development through technology-driven, sustainable, and inclusive operations. “We aim to position Jammu & Kashmir as a dryfruit processing hub with global standards, and women will be at the heart of this transformation,” he noted.
The plant is aligned with the Union Territory’s Industrial Policy 2021, which aims to catalyse investment and create industrial clusters in rural and semi-urban areas. The Jammu-based Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-J) has also been invited to collaborate with VKC Nuts to boost crop productivity and establish stronger linkages between farmers and processors.
Key Highlights:
- 400+ direct employment opportunities to be created.
- 70% of the workforce will be women, trained in quality control, packaging, and automation processes.
- Enhanced backward linkage with local walnut and almond growers in J&K.
- Strategic focus on value-added processing to boost exports and shelf-ready products for retail.
With India’s nuts and dried fruits market witnessing exponential growth driven by rising health awareness and demand for clean-label snacking VKC’s expansion is being seen as a timely step to scale indigenous processing and reduce reliance on imports.
The company plans to use this plant as a model for other geographies, signalling a new era of inclusive industrialisation in India’s food processing ecosystem.
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