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Karnataka Krishi Mission urging govt to promote food processing sector
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Thursday, 25 August, 2016, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Bengaluru
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fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Karnataka Krishi Mission is pressing the state government to promote food processing industries as it would help farmers get better prices for their produce.
A pulses festival was organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Bidar, North Karnataka. At the event, S A Patil, former chairman of the Mission, said that the cultivation and consumption of pulses needed to be promoted, primarily because value-added food processing industries would stabilise the prices of farm produce.
He urged government agencies, universities, farmers’ groups and industries to focus on this area.
Bidar district is known for its cultivation of red gram, a source of vitamins and minerals, has a number of health benefits. Transplantation methods have gained popularity, and farmers are opting for it.
Patil said, “Now Bidar is the only district in the country where farmers are transplanting red gram. However, it should increase manifold as it is a hassle-free method that requires fewer seeds, increases yields and is more remunerative.”
The district also grows soya on 1.46 lakh hectares. Much of this produce is sold in Maharashtra, where it is value added to manufacture oil, cakes and even food additives. If these products are made in Bidar, the farmers in the region will have an additional source of income.
“Soya is the base material for 32 food and other products. Therefore, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra would need to conduct workshops for women and train them in making processed food items like papad,” said Patil.
The University of Agriculture Sciences will need to team up with medical colleges to undertake research in nutraceuticals to develop products using crops grown in the region.
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