-SATISH HANDA
Haryana state government has prepared a proposal to develop agro based industry in rural areas in the state for manufacturing products from crops available in the area, which would not only bring prosperity in rural areas in the state but also increase employment opportunities in the area as well as also increase farmers’ income. Principal Secretary to Chief Minister as well as HSIIDC Chairman R.K. Khuller told media persons that state government would provide all basic facilities to entrepreneurs to set up industry in rural areas and provide them land on lease hold basis since over 500 acres Panchayat land is available in 158 villages all over in 22 districts across the state, which would not only reduce initial cost for developing industry but also agriculture products produced in the area will be consumed as raw material..
Information reveals, young generation in rural areas has lost interest in agriculture farming, there is acute shortage of jobs for youths at present and most of the youths in rural areas are seen interested in setting up their own industrial units instead of farming career. Haryana state government is interested in setting up agro-based industry including agro processing plants offering special packages in the state to benefit farmers. According to state government information, large number of proposals have been received from companies in abroad for investment in Haryana state willing to shift their manufacturing units from China.
According to experts from state agriculture and horticulture departments, in Southern part of Haryana include Rewari, Mohindergarh, Gurugram, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Jhajjar districts having shortage of water for crops irrigation cultivation of ‘Sarson’ and ‘Bajra’ crops are beneficial. Similarly, cultivation of crops like cotton and ‘Bajra’ in Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa and Hisar districts may bring handsome profits to farmers. In the same way, farmers of G.T road belt including Karnal, Kalka, Kaithal, Panipat, Kurukshetra and Ambala prefer to cultivate paddy crop getting huge quantity of rice, especial Basmati being exported to large number of countries across the world. However, cultivation of wheat crop is popular all over in the state, whereas farmers of NCR area in Haryana state prefer to cultivate vegetables supplying to biggest fruit and vegetable market Delhi nearby because of having no large agro-based industry to consume vegetables in the area.
According to industry consultants, farmers may earn handsome return by developing small scale units or self help groups in rural areas, consume their own agriculture produce and sell goods in local markets in the area in small packing such producing flour and ‘maida’ from wheat crop in mini grinders. ‘Bajra’ can be used in production of biscuits and other bakery products. Potato crop can be used to prepare chips and powder when unable to get good price in vegetable markets during season. Haryana state can be divided into three industry zones like cotton belt zone comprising of Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind and Bhiwani districts in which cotton produced is used to manufacture yarn, power loom, handloom, textile products, surgical cotton, sanitary pads and several other products of daily use. Cotton wood is used to manufacture plywood and as fuel in brick kilns.
As a result of excessive cotton crop may bring boom to textile manufacturing units in the area. Textile industry was developed at Bhiwani in the year 1943 when town was having three major textile manufacturing units BTM, TIT and Chinar functioning in the area for years when every tenth person in the area was employed in these textile industries. These manufacturing units used to procure basic raw material cotton and yarn from distant places, failed to survive for a long time lying sick at present. Birla Group started textile manufacturing at Bhiwani when British government was ruling over in the country and used to procure cotton from Punjab.
The districts of Rewari, Narnul, Mohindergarh and Gurugram are popular for cultivation of ‘Sarson’ and ‘Bajra’, which may be used in production of vegetable oil and cattle feed, whereas ‘Bajra’ is used to produce bakery biscuits and other bakery products. Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Kaithal, Yamunanagar, Sonepat, Jind and Ambala districts are known for paddy crop in which farmers groups are in a position to sell grinded rice in small packing to prepare South Indian dishes ‘Dosa’ and ‘Idly’
