Research institutes can create jobs in Uttarakhand : Assocham

Uttarakhand can create 300,000 jobs by setting up research institutes in the field of food processing, agri-biotechnology and pharma attracting nearly Rs 50,000 crore of investment in next 5-7 year, a new study has said.

The study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), "Uttarakhand: Unbounded Opportunities", says that these institutes would generate knowledge and technology, and prevent mass-scale migration to cities beyond its geographical boundaries, an issue that had haunted the state for the past several decades.

The study, which will be submitted to Chief Minister BC Khanduri by the Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot, said that places like Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh and Champawat were repository of rich variety of herbs where the institutes could come up.

Dhoot said that over 170 medicinal and aromatic plant species were being grown and fruits like apples, oranges, pear, grapes peach, plum apricot, litchi, mangoes and guava were widely grown in the state.

At present Uttarakhand's 85 per cent gross cultivated area is used for self-consumption. There was a need to enhance agriculture, biotechnology, horticulture and floriculture productivity and production, the study said.

Four agriculture exports zones and one biotechnology park near Pantnagar is already coming up in the state. The presence of suggested institutes will impart professional training to enable its talented pool to gear up for food processing, agri and biotech companies.

Citing reasons for necessity of pharma institutes in Uttarakhand, Dhoot said pharma companies like Medicamen and Elder Pharma were facing shortage in the availability of technically competent and qualified manpower which hindered the prospects of the industry.

He, however, demanded that the proposed institutes be given fiscal incentives like tax exemptions and easy availability of loans with moderate interest rates to enable the state to garner free flow of domestic and overseas food processing, agri-biotech and pharma firm's investments.