Opportunity for food processing industry in Bihar

Bihar is one of the neglected states in India. One cannot just blame the government alone; the locals themselves are not interested. There is high potential for agricultural growth there with vast fertile lands still available for production.

WHEN WE talk about Bihar we say that it is a land of no opportunity. There is corruption, crime and backwardness. People of Bihar have no option for work and therefore, they have to go to the metropolitan cities for livelihood.

Bihar is not a land of less opportunity but we can say that it is a land consisting of people with less will power. Though Bihar has much fertile land and there is lots of opportunity for food processing.

According to agriculture report, Bihar is the largest producer of green vegetable and second largest in fruit production. Makhana production is also the largest in Bihar. We are producing the largest amount of honey in India. Mango and litchis are another good quantity product of Bihar.

Food processing industry was worth 140,000 crore in 2000 in India (according to a leading website) and it is the fast growing industry. Bihar is leading in vegetarian food production and there is lots of potential in this field. McDonald, one of the largest food processing company, is giving vegetarian burger in India according to demand.

The largest population of India is Hindu and 30 to 40 per cent of them are restricted vegetarians. There is a huge demand of vegetarian food. So food processing could be a good option for providing employment in Bihar.
There is a good example of success in food processing in Bihar, that is the milk producer cooperatives of Bihar. It should be followed for other food production. Women power could be use for food production because they have great potential for work and there is a need for empowering them.