APICOL: A catalyst to boost Agro-based units

BHUBANESWAR: The Government on Saturday  decided to strengthen the Agricultural Promotion and Investment Corporation (APICOL) by roping in technical experts from the field of agriculture and allied activities.Basically an agrarian economy with more than 70 per cent of people depending on farm activities, the State has huge potential for agro-based industries. However, the Government has not been able to exploit this potential despite vast opportunities and incentives.The issue was discussed at a high-level  meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik. He said food processing industries should be set up and APICOL should act as a catalyst to encourage entrepreneurs in this sector. For this, APICOL needs to be strengthened with technical support from agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry and rural management sectors.In view of the increasing demand for milk and egg, more dairy and poultry farms in the private sector should be set up.  The State is yet to achieve self-sufficiency in production of eggs.  While egg production is about one-tenth of its demand, the balance requirement is met by neighbouring States. Andhra Pradesh is the major supplier of egg to the State.The Chief Secretary asked the Fisheries department to scale up in-land fish production in farm and community ponds.APICOL should encourage new entrepreneurs to set up agro-clinic and agro-service centres. The farmers should be encouraged to shift from traditional farming to mechanised farming. They should also go for cash crops instead of traditional crops like paddy, he said, adding that farmers must get a better price for their produce.Development Commissioner R N Senapati, Agriculture Principal Secretary R L Jamuda, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Secretary Satyabrat Sahu, Panchayati Raj Additional Secretary Arabinda Padhee and APICOL Managing Director Om Kar attended the meeting.