(a) the details of the steps being undertaken to promote marketing of agro products;
(b) the number of agro clinics and agro-business centres set up during the second half of
the previous fiscal year, State-wise; and
(c) the employment generated through the above schemes during the last three years, year-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRO AND RURAL INDUSTRIES ( SHRI SANGH PRIYA GAUTAM )
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 117 FOR ANSWER ON 09.12.2003.
(a): A number of steps have been taken by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) to promote marketing
of KVI products including agro products. The marketing of such products is done through Departmental
and Institutional sales outlets. For promoting the marketing of such products, exhibitions are
organized within the country and producing institutions are also encouraged to participate in international
exhibitions to promote exports. Support is also provided by the KVIC for participation in Trade Fairs,
Exhibitions, buyer-sellers meet etc. Further, a confederation for Promotion of Khadi and Village
Industries (CPKVI) has been formed to promote marketing of KVI products in a big way.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has informed that they are operating six Plan Schemes during
the 10th Plan period for the development of the processed food sector. Under the Plan scheme of Backward
and Forward Integration and other promotional activities, assistance in the form of grant is available, inter-alia,
for market survey, test marketing and brand building.
(b): The Government does not set up any Agro-clinics and Agro- business Centres on its own. However, as
informed by the Ministry of Agriculture, they are promoting Agri-clinics and Agri-business centres through
a Central Sector Scheme `Establishment of a network of Agri-clinics and Agri-business Centres` which aims at
extending opportunities to all eligible agricultural graduates to support agriculture development through
economically viable ventures which will be set up by them with the help of bank loan. 416 Agri-clinics
and Agri-business Centres have been set up during the period 01.10.2002 to 31.03.2003. The State-wise details
are given at Annexure-I.
(c): As the schemes of Agri-clinics and Agri-business Centres were launched on 09.04.2002, the year-wise details
of the employment generated are given below :-
Year Employment generated
2002-03 416 2003-04 (upto 06.12.2003) 354