A study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has recommended Karnataka to promote diary and agro-food processing industries, at Bagepalli in Kolar district, identified as one of the 39 most backward taluks in the state for industrialisation under the Kaigarika Vikasa Scheme. | |
| The study on "Industrialisation of Backward Talukas', jointly conducted by the CII and PricewaterhouseCoopers, has also identified water scarcity and high fluoride content as the primary challenge facing the region. In its report to the government, the report has urged to take up drip irrigation. |
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| "Agriculture in the region mostly depends on rainfall while the groundwater levels are extremely low due to over exploitation and the water table is very low (presently greater than 750 ft). The paucity of water makes drip irrigation techniques imperative," the report adds. |
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| Drip irrigation must be popularised as it will reduce the adverse impact of drought on crop and cocoon production, it added. |
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| The report has recommended the government to encourage adoption of this technology among farmers through training and marketing and investigate options of forming tie-ups with manufacturers of drip irrigation technology. |
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| The study has recommended a sustainable growth strategy for the economic development of Bagepalli. Among the suggestions include, taking up dairy and agro-food processing industry, to enable Bagepalli to generate overall and pull-based development. "Apart from acting as a consumer of the agricultural output of the region, these could provide employment to the available workforce without much investment in training," it has found. |
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| Bagepalli has significantly more livestock per capita than other parts of Kolar district. The composition of milch animals in the taluk has significantly increased over the last few years. It registers higher yield of milk per capita. |
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| The total milk procurement during 2005-06 was 1,00,000 litres per day and there is a scope to double the quantity of milk procurement in the next 5 years. |
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| The report said that since milk was a perishable product, there was a need to strengthen the supply chain. "The raw milk cannot purposefully serve the growing market of Bangalore, which will be more than 6 hours away from the collection centres for milk," it said. The report has suggested to add value to the milk locally and to increase its shelf life through pasteurisation, packaging (tetra-pack/pouch packing) and conversion of milk in to long shelf life products like milk powder, fat and basic foods. |
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| The report envisages that a milk powder manufacturing unit could lead to the generation of over 1000 jobs. Milk powder plants are commercially attractive and will have a multiplier effect in the local economy in terms of improved income for the farmers. |
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| The agro-food industry has the scope to improve agricultural productivity and incomes in the region by modifying and cropping pattern and moving it towards commercial crops, the report said. The available human resources, soil and terrain of the taluk are well-suited for horticultural produce. This industry will create a strong financial incentive for farmers to voluntarily move to water saving technologies, it added. |
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| The report has recommended the government to explore the possibilities of constructing check dams, minor dams and find means to reach drinking water to the households, agriculture and industries. These will have twin benefits of retaining water for agricultural consumption and increasing the ground water table, it said. Government should also take measures to de-silt the tanks in the taluk and increase their storage capacity, it added. |
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| The report says that for the overall economic growth in the region, the government need to create more employment and income opportunities to the landless, semi skilled and skilled people. Sericulture, readymade garments, agriculture machine tool, auto ancillaries and groundnut processing are the various sectors which have been recommended in the report for the development of the area. |
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| The report has urged the government to speed up the proposed industrial estate of Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board at Bagepalli and the six-lane highway. "The six lane highway will provide connectivity to Bangalore and the proposed airport at Devanahalli, as these infrastructure initiatives will trigger economic development in the region," it said. |
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