Himachal invites food processing firms
April 7th, 2011 - 6:19 pm ICT by IANSShimla, April 7 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Thursday invited private investment in food processing industries to promote ginger cultivation in the state.
“We are inviting private firms to set up agriculture and food processing units as the state is one of the leading ginger producers in the region,” Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said in the assembly.
He said that from April 1, 2010, to March 31 this year, the state had produced 21,267 tonnes of ginger.
“Sirmaur is the leading ginger-producing district as 70 percent of the state’s total production comes from this district alone,” said Dhumal, who also holds the agriculture portfolio.
The crop is also cultivated in Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Una districts.
In 2009-2010, the ginger production was massively affected in the state due to drought.
“In 2009-2010, the production came down to 14,900 tonnes, whereas in 2008-09 it was 18,760 tonnes. It was 19,200 tonnes in 2007-08,” the chief minister said.
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the state, providing direct employment to 69 percent of its workforce.
More than 80 percent horticulture and agricultural activities here are rainfed.
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Tags: agricultural activities, agriculture, april 1, chief minister, drought, food processing industries, ginger, himachal pradesh, horticulture, kullu, occupation, private firms, private investment, processing units, producers, solan, tonnes, workforce