In a significant move aimed at revitalizing the rural economy, the Member of Parliament from Anakapalli has presented a comprehensive five-point blueprint to Union Minister for Food Processing and Industries, Chirag Paswan. The plan focuses on transforming the economic landscape of the Anakapalli district by establishing value-added industries, thereby ensuring better returns for farmers and creating substantial employment opportunities for the local youth.
Addressing Core Challenges in Agriculture and Fisheries
During the meeting with the Union Minister, the MP detailed the persistent challenges faced by farmers and fishermen in the backward regions of the district. The central issue identified is the severe lack of proper infrastructure for value addition, which forces primary producers to sell their harvests at low prices and results in massive wastage of potential resources.
The MP strongly advocated that the implementation of the proposed five key projects could lead to a dramatic improvement in the living standards of over 100,000 families across Anakapalli district.
Key Proposals for Value Addition and Waste Transformation
The detailed proposals target specific agricultural and marine products where value addition can yield the highest impact:
1. Pharma-Grade Jaggery Unit: Despite an annual production of roughly 120,000 metric tons of sugarcane in Anakapalli and Tummapala, farmers currently receive a meager 40 to 45 rupees per kilo due to reliance on traditional jaggery-making methods. The MP proposed establishing a Common Facility Centre equipped with vacuum evaporation technology. This facility would produce high-value pharma-grade jaggery powder and liquid jaggery, which could fetch prices between 120 to 150 rupees per kilo, directly benefiting approximately 50,000 sugarcane farming families.
2. Tomato Pulping Unit: To protect tomato farmers in Madugula mandal from severe losses during seasonal price crashes, the MP sought the sanction of a tomato pulping unit under the central government's Operation Greens scheme.
3. Cashew Processing Cluster: A dedicated local processing cluster for cashew nuts in the Narsipatnam agency area was proposed. This initiative aims to ensure remunerative prices for over 10,000 cashew farmers by processing the nuts within the district itself.
4. Marine Waste to Wealth Unit: Highlighting a critical opportunity, the MP pointed out that thousands of tons of fish waste, including shrimp shells and fish scales, are discarded annually on the Pudimadaka coast. Setting up a unit to extract valuable compounds like chitosan and collagen—used extensively in the pharmaceutical industry—could transform this zero-value waste into raw material worth 1,500 rupees per kilo. This venture has the potential to provide supplementary income to over 20,000 fishing families.
Infrastructure for Growth and Employment
The final two proposals focus on creating enabling infrastructure and attracting large-scale investment to the district.
5. Agro-Processing Cluster under PMKSY: A major recommendation was the sanction of an Agro-Processing Cluster in Anakapalli under the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). Such a cluster is expected to attract a government grant of 10 crore rupees and catalyze private investments worth around 150 crore rupees. Most importantly, it is projected to create over 3,000 jobs for the local youth, addressing a key concern.
6. Regional FSSAI Laboratory: The MP also underscored the need for an FSSAI-recognised food testing lab in the district. Currently, exporters must travel long distances for mandatory certification, causing delays. A regional lab in Anakapalli would enable same-day testing and certification, significantly speeding up export processes and boosting the credibility of local food products.
A Vision for Historic Change
In his presentation to Union Minister Chirag Paswan, the Anakapalli MP framed these five interconnected proposals as a catalyst for historic change in the district's agriculture and food processing sectors. The plan strategically moves from addressing immediate losses faced by farmers to building long-term, sustainable industrial infrastructure. By converting raw produce and waste into high-value commodities and creating a supportive ecosystem for food businesses, the vision aims to place Anakapalli on the map as a hub for modern agro-processing, ultimately leading to widespread economic prosperity.
