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Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday inaugurated a Farmers Training and Common Facility Centre (FT-CFC) for chilli processing at Konchigere village in Ballari district.
The chilli processing unit has been established with funds from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and with financial assistance from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
“We have already opened three units, a fruit processing unit in Koppal, a pulses processing unit in Raichur and now, this chilli processing unit in Ballari. Tomorrow, we will inaugurate a tamarind processing unit in Vijayanagara. Within a fortnight, I will return to open three more, a soya processing unit in Bidar, a jowar unit in Kalaburagi and a peanut unit in Yadgir,” Ms. Sitharaman said.
She added that the Union and State governments, along with district administrations and partner institutions, are working together to help farmers secure better prices for their produce.
Highlighting the importance of establishing a chilli processing unit in Ballari, the district known for chill cultivation, the Minister said that Ballari farmers can significantly increase their income by processing their produce within the district instead of selling raw chilli elsewhere.
“Rather than travelling all the way to Haveri to sell your chilli, you can now process them right in Ballari into world-class chilli powder and flakes and market them across Karnataka, the country and even abroad. This will help farmers earn much better returns,” she said and added that ITC Limited has partnered in this effort.
“If this unit performs well, we will explore setting up more such facilities. Ballari alone needs at least five of them,” she added.
Underscoring the importance of responsible pesticide use, the Minister cautioned that excessive residues can bar Indian produce from international markets.
“I have instructed officials to bring agricultural scientists to Ballari to assess pesticide levels in chilli and educate farmers on optimal usage. Proper practices will help ensure that the produce meets global export standards,” she said.
Commending the Siddagangasree Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) in Ballari for voluntarily contributing to the project, she noted that the FPO, with 1,150 members, including 372 women, has set a model for others by supporting the establishment of this unit.
Earlier, the Minister visited an exhibition showcasing locally processed farm products, organic produce and agro-based innovations and interacted with farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
NABARD Chairman Shaji K.V., in his opening remarks, lauded Ms. Sitharaman’s vision of transforming agriculture into agribusiness.
“All sectors are growing and agriculture too must keep pace. These projects bring together farmers, FPOs and institutions, creating opportunities for entrepreneurship in rural areas,” he said.
He added that the initiative marks a new chapter for NABARD in promoting agro-enterprises in partnership with farmers.
MLC N. Ravikumar, Additional Chief Secretary Uma Mahadevan and ITC Limited Chairman Sanjiv Puri were present on the occasion.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman interacting with students and teachers at a digital public library at Bagewadi village in Siruguppa taluk on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Digital library
Earlier in the day, Ms. Sitharaman visited a digital public library at Bagewadi village in Siruguppa taluk and interacted with students and teachers.
The modern library, built at a cost of ₹24 lakh under the Zilla Panchayat grants, has been equipped with digital facilities and a well-designed reading space.
The library houses over 5,800 books on various subjects and includes computer systems and digital access points to enhance the learning experience of readers.
The Minister appreciated the library’s efforts to promote digital literacy and encouraged students to make effective use of the resources.
Siruguppa MLA B.M. Nagaraj, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Uma Mahadevan, Deputy Commissioner Nagendra Prasad K., Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Haris Sumair, Private Secretary to the Minister Aniruddh Shravan and several district officials, teachers and students were present during the visit.
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