Bengal Minister: Boost Farmers'' Income via Food Processing

Kolkata, Aug 5 (PTI) West Bengal Agriculture Marketing Minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday stressed the need to strengthen food processing, post-harvest management and market linkages to enhance farmers' incomes, saying the state should move beyond selling raw agricultural produce.

Addressing a summit organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) and ThinkAg, he said value addition through processing of crops such as potatoes, bananas, tomatoes and pineapples would help boost farmers' earnings.

Ghosh, also the Panchayats & Rural Development Minister, called for expanding storage and cold-chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and advocated greater adoption of mechanisation, quality inputs, scientific farming and modern technologies.


He sought better utilisation of government schemes and agricultural marketing infrastructure to support entrepreneurs, food processors and rural youth, and said that a stronger farm sector would generate employment, curb migration and contribute to the vision of a developed India.

Industry representatives at the summit highlighted the need for quality seeds, climate-resilient farming, technology-driven advisory services and easier access to institutional finance.

They also called for closer collaboration among industry, research institutions, financial organisations and policymakers to accelerate sustainable agricultural transformation in eastern India.