3-tier system to convert MoUs into projects
The State government will put in place a three-tier system to review and ensure that the investment proposals pledged by private players at the Global Agribusiness and Food Processing Summit 2011 are converted into actual projects.
As curtains came down on the two-day summit on Friday, the State government firmed up Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 60,531 crore in agribusiness, food processing, agri-infrastructure, horticulture, sericulture and allied sectors. Two financial MoUs worth Rs 50,000 crore were also inked.
While 31 private players had made investment pledges to the tune of Rs 53,000 crore on the first day, Friday witnessed 11 more companies signing on the dotted line expressing their willingness to invest in the agri-sector in the state.
The concluding day also witnessed Bank of India come forward to invest Rs 10,000 crore in funding agri-business projects. The State government has already got a commitment from State Bank of India that it was willing to provide up to Rs 40,000 crore to companies to invest agri-business projects.
On Friday, Dee Mandala came forward to invest Rs 6,000 crore in integrated horticulture park and food processing. K V Raju, Economic Advisor to the chief minister, said that Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation (KAPPEC) in consultation with Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited would prepare an action plan to implement the MOUs signed during the two-day meet.
At the government level, a high-level panel headed by Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner would review the progress of the projects on a fortnightly basis. Besides, a Cabinet sub-committee headed by the chief minister would monitor the progress and implementation of the projects once in three months, he said.
Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda expressed confidence that the summit would go a long way in improving the productivity of the land, generating employment, enhancing exports, besides improving economic conditions of the farmers and entrepreneurs.
‘Serious interventions’
“The government will take steps for development of agriculture and allied sectors in order to protect our farmers from the vagaries of nature and fluctuating prices. Since a large part of Karnataka is rain fed in nature, serious interventions are required for hi-tech cultivation and mechanisation of high order to ensure constant returns to the farmers”, he said.
Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said the holding of the agri-summit had been his dream and expressed confidence that all MoUs signed during the meet would materialise into actual projects in the days to come.
Yeddyurappa, could not make it to the inauguration of the summit on Thursday as he was undergoing treatment for throat infection at a private hospital in Mumbai. Allaying fears of the farmers, who staged a protest on Thursday, Yeddyurappa said the government will not acquire land forcibly. “If at all there is forcible acquisition, I will be the first person to protest”, he said.
Break Up
* Agri infrastructure: Rs 35,488 crore
* Agri and Horti engineering services: Rs 3,845 crore
* Animal husbandry sector: Rs 2,506 crore
* Fisheries sector: Rs 1,575 crore
* Food processing sector: Rs 9,635 crore
* Knowledge hubs in the field of agriculture: Rs 1,923 crore
