Administrative efforts have accelerated in Jaipur to seamlessly connect agricultural produce directly with domestic markets and export channels. Chief Secretary V. Srinivas has instructed officials to conduct a comprehensive crop-wise and region-wise mapping of proposed agro-processing clusters throughout the state. The core objective of this exercise is to identify which crops thrive in specific zones, determine the appropriate processing units for those locations, and evaluate market demand both domestically and globally. The government aims to shift farmers away from selling raw agricultural materials by encouraging processing and packaging to secure better financial returns.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Within Clusters
During a high-level meeting at the Government Secretariat, the Chief Secretary discussed cluster development strategies with officials and industry experts. He emphasized that these clusters should not be restricted solely to crop cultivation and basic processing. Instead, facilities for sorting, grading, packaging, cold storage, transportation, supply chain management, branding, and direct market access must be integrated. These upgraded systems will minimize post-harvest crop losses while ensuring producers receive fair prices for their yields.
Food Park Allocations and Land Distribution
Under the Rajasthan Food Park Development Policy-2026, a total of 39 food parks have been proposed across the state, with land already allotted across 35 distinct locations. Currently, the state houses 2 mega food parks, 4 agro-processing clusters, and 6 RIICO or spice parks, alongside more than 1,500 active agro-processing units. Furthermore, financial assistance has been extended to over 1,850 micro food processing units under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises scheme.
Special Focus on 10 Key Crops
The administration is actively working to build agro-processing clusters centered around 10 major agricultural and horticultural products. This selected group includes moong, mustard, soybean, kinnow, pomegranate, guava, orange, psyllium husk, cumin, and garlic. Major production zones and districts for these specific crops have been mapped to establish local processing infrastructure, thereby providing nearby markets for farmers.
Boosting Investment and Export Potential
Additional Chief Secretary of Industries Shikhar Agarwal stated that alongside attracting large agricultural processing enterprises to Rajasthan, equal emphasis must be placed on value addition and export opportunities. Authorities are identifying key export-oriented products along with their target international markets. These agro-processing clusters will be synchronized with existing food parks and state industrial promotion policies to drive private investments and expand the global reach of regional farm goods.
Integrating FPOs and Small Enterprises
The Chief Secretary directed NABARD to map Farmer Producer Organisations alongside evaluating the economic viability of the proposed clusters. Strong emphasis is also being placed on onboarding startups, small processing units, and the private sector into this framework. According to the Department of Horticulture, 7 out of the 10 proposed clusters are eligible for the National Horticulture Board cluster development program. Proposals for guava, pomegranate, and cumin clusters have already been finalized, while clusters for psyllium husk, kinnow, garlic, and orange are slated for the subsequent phase. Meanwhile, clusters for mustard, soybean, and moong will be advanced through investment pacts and state government schemes.
