PARBHANI — Underlining the Central Government’s focus on agro-processing and rural entrepreneurship under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan formally inaugurated an advanced Common Incubation Center (CIC) at the College of Food Technology, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), Parbhani.
The high-tech facility was built through a multi-tier collaborative framework featuring financial assistance from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), regulatory support from the university, and execution by the State-Level Nodal Agency of the Maharashtra Agriculture Department.
Strengthening the Farm-to-Market Value Chain
Speaking at a special guidance session at the university’s Golden Jubilee Convocation Hall, Minister Paswan stressed that while India has achieved complete self-reliance in agricultural production, the next major economic shift must focus on value addition and lowering post-harvest food wastage.
Key focus areas highlighted by the Union Minister during the launch included:
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Empowering Smallholders: Enhancing localized processing and storage assets so small-scale farmers are not forced to sell their harvest at lower prices immediately after production.
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Fostering Youth Entrepreneurship: Urging agricultural graduates and local youth to leverage incubation centers to transition from job seekers to job creators.
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Global Market Competitiveness: Emphasizing that long-term brand equity relies heavily on absolute product quality, demanding that any product stamped with “Made in India” meet rigorous global benchmarks.
Maharashtra Leads in Micro-Enterprise Formalization
The Minister highly commended the administrative machinery of Maharashtra, noting that the state has emerged as a top performer across India under the PMFME Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme).
To ensure domestic products remain globally competitive, Paswan called for a balanced adoption of organic farming practices and a reduced dependence on chemical fertilizers, aligning with national initiatives like the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan.”
Dignitaries in Attendance
The high-profile inauguration was attended by several notable public representatives and administrative leaders, including:
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Smt. Meghana Tai Bordikar: Guardian Minister of Parbhani District and Minister of State for Public Health and Family Welfare.
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Prof. (Dr.) Indra Mani: Vice Chancellor of VNMKV (who presided over the event).
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Shri Sanjay Jadhav & Shri Ramrao Wadkute: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, respectively.
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Smt. Natisha Mathur, IAS: Acting District Collector and CEO of Zilla Parishad.
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Shri Pankaj Kumawat, IPS: Superintendent of Police.
