Agri universities allowed to enter into pacts with processing firms

In an effort to bring in corporate investment to the farming sector,agriculture universities will now be allowed to enter into partnerships with processing firms,said state agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.

In an effort to bring in corporate investment to the farming sector,agriculture universities will now be allowed to enter into partnerships with processing firms,said state agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. The nitty gritty of the project will be decided next week,he added.

The minister was speaking at an Investors Meet organised by Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB),Maharashtra State Warehousing Corporation and Pravara Phale Bhajipala Kharedi Vikri Sahakari Sanstha,Rahata on Saturday.

The aim of the meet was to find a business partner for Sai Pravara Agro Processing Park that will be set up at Rahata in Ahmednagar district.

The PPP business model has been successful in sectors such as electricity and roadways.We are taking steps to implement this model in agriculture. If such an agricultural processing industry is set up,it would guarantee farmers get a good price for their produce. About Rs 1,000 crore would be invested in the project this year; the investment will be increased to Rs 10,000 crore in the next five years, he said. Patil said the major hurdle was the unavailability of land and if the agricultural universities agree to accommodate the processing plants on their campuses,this issue would be solved.

The universities can also provide raw material to the industry. This will boost their research work. But the decision will not be forced upon the universities, he added.

He said a one-window system for permissions related to the agro-based industrial units will be set up. This would help in creating a positive mindset among the investor about the agri sector in the state,he added.

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