Collector Plans For Sustained Growth in Konaseema District
Boost to industries based on raw material available within Konaseema, like coconut and banana, ₹10 crore sanctioned for Coconut Park at Mamidikuduru
KAKINADA: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district has not developed in commensurate with the capacity it has by way of raw materials like coconut, banana, cocoa, yam, aqua culture, rice and other resources. To bridge the gap, district collector R. Mahesh is opening avenues for industrialists to establish units based on coconut and banana to start with.
For the purpose, two incubation centres are being planned, for coconut over three acres at Uppalaguptam in Mamidikuduru mandal and for banana on four acres at Devarapalli village near Ravulapalem. Incentives available under the MSME policy are to be offered to encourage industrialists in this regard. ₹10 crore have already been sanctioned for a Coconut Park at Mamidikuduru.
In all, 292 value-added products based on the coconut crop and 60 based on bananas have been identified for starting the relevant MSME units. The collector has asked teams of officials, including those of the Horticulture department, to tour states, including Kerala, to study and finalise plans to process such products in the district.
Collector Mahesh told Deccan Chronicle that coconut gardens are spread over 1 lakh acres in the district while banana is cultivated over 25,000 acres in the area. “Detailed projects reports (DPRs) will be prepared and sent to the state government for approval, before inviting entrepreneurs to set up the industries. Small units can also be started by SHGs and youth groups in the areas of processing, packing and marketing, which would create employment in rural areas,” Mahesh pointed out.
