There is a big potential in Rajasthan for doing food and agriculture business and the desert state should leverage its unique advantages in this area, Patanjali Ayurved chief and yoga guru Baba Ramdev said.
He was speaking at the three-day Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM), which began in Jaipur on Wednesday.
The event has attracted participation from industry experts from across the globe as well as eminent speakers from the country.
The yoga guru said Patanjali is going to brand and sell bajra (pearl millet) flour, grown mainly in Rajasthan. He urged Rajasthan farmers to start the cultivation of aloe vera and amla so that his Patanjali brand could buy raw material from them.
"Patanjali is willing to start a mega food park in Rajasthan," he said.
Ramdev said Patanjali is also venturing into the milk and spices businesses from next year.
"We have limited land and water. It has to be used skilfully. Even NITI Aayog has placed Rajasthan at number three in terms of land usage and reforms. We are going to sign an MoU of Rs 3,500 crore for our farmers," Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said.
"I would also urge Patanjali to invest in Rajasthan," she added.
Efficient use of water and crop diversification are important for advancing the agriculture sector, experts said.
They said farmers need to know the latest technologies for innovative cultivation to increase their income.
Prabhu Lal Saini, Rajasthan's minister of agriculture, said: "We want to provide a global platform to our farmers with GRAM. It is all about gyan (knowledge, vigyan (science) and kisan (farmer)."
BW Reporters
Haider Ali Khan is an alumnus of IIMC. He holds a degree in English Journalism from the prestigious campus. His passion includes Aviation, Technology, Politics and Sports.
