: The Erode District Small Industries' Association has urged the Commerce Ministry to help farmers add more value to their produce by providing them skill and infrastructure for processing and packing food.
In a representation to the Minister if the farmers were allowed to become entrepreneurs they could earn more money for their produce.
Association Secretary P Thirumoorthy, said an integrated agro-food park could be set up in the district for better price for farm produce. Erode and nearby districts produced enormous quantity of turmeric, fruit and vegetables. Farmers should be guided in seed selection, analysis of properties of harvested produce so that they couldexport them, he said.
The Park must have grading platform for farm produce,cold storage, safe transportation and tools for modern farming. Agricultural waste could be converted into fuel, cattle feed and paper, Thirumoorthy said.
He said Erode fully qualified for a full-fledged centre of CFTRI for processing perishable fruits and vegetables,value addition without loss of nutrition and aroma and training facilities to manufacture value-added products to world standards,he said.
