Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Set Up Adequate Cold Storage Facilities, Food Processing Industries And ... on 12 August, 2013
> Title: Need to set up adequate cold storage facilities, food processing industries and an agricultural export zone in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu.
SHRI E.G. SUGAVANAM (KRISHNAGIRI): In my Krishnagiri District, mango cultivation occupies a prominent place. Mangoes are cultivated here in nearly 40,000 hectares of land and the annual production is around 4 lakh tons. Large varieties of mangoes cultivated here are exported throughout the country and abroad fetching huge foreign exchange to the Government. Considering the high potential in this region, the National Horticultural Mission has identified and declared Krishnagiri district for promoting mango cultivation.
As the mango production is plenty, so is the production of mango pulp. The mango pulp industry in Krishnagiri District is the second largest exporter of pulp in the country generating revenue of about Rs. 500 crore foreign exchange annually. Large number of mango processing units are also functioning here and the annual pulp production level is about 1 lakh tons. Out of the total mango pulp produced in India, 1/4 is contributed by both Krishnagiri and the neighbouring Dharmapuri districts. The increasing demand for mango pulp envisages rapid expansion of mango pulp industries in the region.
Therefore, to cope with the increasing cultivation of mangoes and production of large quantities of mango pulp, I urge upon the Union Government to set up proper cold storage facilities, establish adequate food processing industries and also set up an Agricultural Export Zone in Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu at the earliest.