New Agro Business policy is for “Make in Gujarat and sell to the world”

Ahmedabad:

CII along with Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation under its ‘Gujarat Knowledge Sharing Forum’ organized an Interaction on the Gujarat Government’s recently announced ‘Comprehensive Agro Business Policy 2016-21’. The CII-Gujarat Knowledge Sharing Forum brings together all stakeholders who work on policy or benefit from policy practices – like the Government – Industry – Producers – user fraternity – on a single platform to share inputs and understand the nuances of the legislative directives.

Mr Piruz Khambatta, Chairman, CII National Committee on Food Processing & Managing Director, Rasna Pvt Ltd, said, “The industry looks up to the policy as pro-industry, and is going to benefit both the urban and well as rural sectors of Gujarat’s Agri-Business sector, this policy is about inclusive growth. There is a need to create the awareness of the policy at the rural levels also. Emphasising on the need of industry-academia collaborations, Mr. Piruz added the Industry needs to work along with the educational institutions to give boost to the Skill India endeavour.”

Mr K S Randhawa, Managing Director, Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd, speaking during the Interaction, presented a holistic vision of the policy and highlighted all the key Policy initiatives by the Government of Gujarat. He also emphasized that the key objective of the policy is to make agriculture more sustainable and assist Ease of Doing Farming & Food Processing in Gujarat. The policy also aims at facilitating investments in Agro & Food Processing sector for value addition to farm produce so as to ensure higher income to the farmers, provide greater employment opportunities in the rural sector and better products to the consumers.

Elaborating on the scale of innovative and inspiring initiatives in Gujarat and especially Kutch, Mr Babubhai Jebalia, Chairman, Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd., said, “The agri initiatives in Kutch has changed the landscape of Kutch and raised the benchmark in the industry, especially in case of Kharek and Kesar production. The food processing industry can benefit from innovating the way The Kutchi Kesar mango can be exploited. Giving the example of the different value addition which is happening in Maharashtra like the ‘Mango Barfi’ & ‘Aam Papad’, he beckoned the entrepreneurs in Gujarat to come up with such innovations for different produces in the state. He also suggested that entrepreneurs should look at the opportunity of manufacturing real juices of key fruits & vegetables.

Mr Devanshu Gandhi, Immediate Past Chairman CII Gujarat State Council & Managing Director Vadilal Industries Ltd said, “Industry collaborations with farmers to work towards strengthening the process of co-operative farming- with focus on latest developments in agricultural mechanization and irrigation systems is the need of the hour”.

“Gujarat has a leading role to play in the ‘Make in India’ drive and signal a new horizon of opportunities by Making in Gujarat and Selling to the World and to take a leadership position.” Mr Parag Desai, Chairman, CII Gujarat Taskforce on Agro & Food Processing & Managing Director, Waghbakri Group, lauded the Government of Gujarat on the comprehensive agro business policy.

– Communication