CM Asks ITC To Set Up Food Processing Units To Help Farmers

Hyderabad, Aug.3 (Maxim News): Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao asked ITC to establish Food Processing Units in a big way in coordination with the State government. He said the government was firm that food-processing units should come up in big way in the State, to fetch support price for the farmers for their produce, to supply unadulterated and quality food products to the people.

ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri, ED Nakul Anand, senior officers Sanjay Singh, Usharani met the Chief Minister at Pragathi Bhavan today. Chief Secretary SK Joshi, CMO Principal Secretary Narsing Rao and others were present.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanjiv Puri disclosed that construction of ITC’s 800-crore Food Processing Plant at Manoharabad in Medak district was almost completed and the plant will go on stream in two to three months. The Chief Minister congratulated the ITC for completing such a big Food Processing Plant in a record time. “Our government has an aim to launch the food processing units on a large scale to enable the growers get suitable price for their produce and the consumers unadulterated and quality food grains. To achieve the goal, major players like the ITC, which has considerable experience in the field, should come forward. There are four-and-a-half lakh Women Self Help groups in the State”, he said.

Chief Minister also said, “Services of the women should be utilised in procuring the raw material and other works for establishment of the Food Processing Units all over the State. This should be taken as a social responsibility,” the CM observed. He also asked the ITC to take initiative in opening the Rayon’s factory in Mulugu district, for which the ITC senior officials responded positively.

“We are completing Kaleswaram and other projects on a fast track. Reservoirs with a capacity of 500 TMC are getting ready in the State. They will become an ideal location for the nature’s beauty. We have natural forests, historical places in the State. All these can be developed as tourism centers. The government was also making efforts for the tourism development. ITC should also come forward in developing tourism centers,” the CM added. (Maxim News)