Sahai for foreign investment in agriculture sector
New Delhi, Oct 6 (UNI) The states should promote third party investors in the farming sector if they cannot lend enough support to the cultivators, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Subodh Kant Sahai said here today.
''If the state government cannot provide enough support to farmers, let them promote third-party investors in farming, specifically foreign investors,'' he said, while talking to mediapersons in the capital.
The country needs huge investment in order to realise the full potential of this sector, and state governments must allow foreign investment in agriculture and encourage contract farming, the minister said, adding that there are many states which are blocking efforts by companies to source farm produce and sell them.
Though agriculture was ''the next sunrise sector in India,'' fragmented holding and farming could not provide economic sustainability to farmers, he maintained.
''If the farmer can't invest in seeds, harvesting technology and water management, we should allow a third party to invest,'' Mr Sahai said.
Promoting contract farming and third-party investment will allow farmers to get the fair share of profits generated by this sector, he added.
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