MSME parks to become hubs for food processing and Agri value addition

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to prioritize setting up food processing units in the 175 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) parks being established across the state. He emphasized that adding value to agricultural produce can significantly benefit farmers.

On Friday, the CM held a review meeting with the Agriculture Department at the Secretariat. Minister K. Achennaidu joined online, and senior officials from Agriculture, Horticulture, and Marketing were present.

Chandrababu Naidu confirmed that he would personally participate in the upcoming “Rythanna - Meekosam” program from November 24 to 29, and on December 3. He asked that public representatives and officials also attend and ensure that every farmer in the Rythu Sampark Kendra (RSK) area receives a letter from the CM, which explains the five key principles outlined for agricultural development.

The CM urged officials to promote awareness about the best farming practices in agriculture, horticulture, and aquaculture. He also highlighted the importance of water security, advising that farmers be educated on groundwater, reservoir, and pond management, as well as the benefits of effective water use.

Under the “demand-driven agriculture” initiative, he encouraged officials to inform farmers about commercial crops, alternative crops, and natural farming practices. The CM also recommended promoting agricultural technology, including mechanization, drone usage, and satellite-based solutions.

Regarding food processing, he emphasized value addition, forming Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), product quality improvement, and proper packaging. Farmers should also be educated about minimum support prices, PM-Kisan benefits, input subsidies, and marketing opportunities through farmer markets.

The CM suggested making the Agriculture Department’s “Farmer App” accessible to all farmers. Through the app, farmers can track their land and crop details, receive weather advisories, pest alerts, market prices, soil test results, and other real-time information. He noted that the on-field agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, and aquaculture assistants are already providing excellent support at the grassroots level and should continue to play a key role in the Rythanna - Meekosam program.

Chandrababu Naidu also directed Horticulture officials to ensure proper marketing for banana crops, preventing price drops. Officials reported that about 40,000 hectares of bananas have been cultivated in Anantapur, Kadapa, and Nandyal districts. Production in states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha has increased significantly, while unseasonal rains have affected certain export varieties, causing prices to fall. The CM instructed that farmers receive minimum support prices and that exports to neighboring states be facilitated. He also suggested using waterways, railways, and, if needed, air cargo to transport horticultural produce efficiently.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the Cotton Corporation of India’s procurement process, the CM pointed out that farmers face difficulties even after booking slots through the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) app. He warned officials to ensure that cotton farmers do not suffer any losses and instructed them to communicate these concerns to the central government.