Developing Agro-Industries For Employment Generation in Rural Areas
Developing Agro-Industries For Employment Generation in Rural Areas
For field studies, the participants visited the following agro-industries: S &
S Agro Biotech (P) Ltd., a commercial producer of banana tissue culture
plants; Kaveri Seeds Co. Pvt. Ltd., a processor of various crop seeds; Vimala
Feeds Unit of Janaki Feeds Pvt. Ltd., which is involved in poultry feed production; Vijaya Phyto Farms Pvt. Ltd., a nursery growing fruit trees, ornamental plants, and seedlings; and the Rural Technology Park of the NIRD,
which serves both demonstration and production functions.
2) Development and strengthening of infrastructure such as power, transport, communications, cold chain facilities, water, marketplaces, and
other social/logistical infrastructure require the immediate attention of
all concerned.
It was generally agreed at the study meeting that significant potential exists
for employment generation in rural areas through the development of appropriate rural-based agro-industries in many member countries. However, the
main constraints hindering the development of rural-based agro-industries,
especially of SMEs, are: inadequate institutional credit; poor infrastructure;
nonavailability of/poor access to appropriate technologies; weak market
linkages; inadequate skilled workforce, need-based training programs, and
posttraining guidance; lack or unreliable supply of quality raw materials;
lack of a conducive policy environment, high duty/tax rates; and lack of
access to export markets due to poor quality/safety of food products.
3) R&D as well as extension services should be strengthened for the development of appropriate technologies, effective technology transfers, and
improved access to existing technologies.
4) Need-based training followed up with on-site guidance to meet the specific needs of rural agribusiness enterprises is essential to stimulate
industrialization and employment generation in rural areas. More
training institutes should be established and existing ones upgraded.
(Continued on page 5)
6
9) Institutional credit should be provided to stimulate rural industrialization and employment generation. Such credit should be characterized by easy access, low interest rates, simple procedures, and
longer repayment schedules.
10) Concerted efforts of all stakeholders are needed to promote the development/improvement of rural-based agro-industries, especially of
SMEs and cottage industries, to generate more job opportunities in
rural areas and ensure sustainable rural development. Agro-based
SMEs must be productive, innovative, and flexible to survive in an era
intense competition
Groupofdiscussion
in progress due to globalization and trade liberalization.
quality: Assessment of trends; Hazard communication; Emergency and disThe APO held a workshop on GP and OEHS in Taipei, Republic of China,
aster management and preparedness; Overview of OEHS monitoring and
913 May, to illustrate how to apply the GP concept to improve the OEHS in
5
operation control; and Development of integrated OEHS management sysall organizations. Nineteen individuals from 13 APO member countries
APOofnews
tems2005
following ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 and development of action
attended. Since risk and hazard assessment is an important component
any July
plans
for certification.
OEHS program and there are already a number of well-established methodologies for risk assessment for improved OEHS, the workshop also explained
The country papers presented by the participants reviewed the policy evoluthem and associated activities for their adoption.
tion and institutional framework for industrial development; current status of
OEHS in participating countries; and current status of activities related to
The participants heard presentations from resource persons on: GP concepts,
OEHS in participants organizations. During the workshop, participants also
principles, and practices and linkages with OEHS; Hazard and risk assesshad opportunities to discuss the emergency response plans of their organizament; Management of health and safety standards at the workplace; OEHS
tions with a resource person and receive technical feedback on them. To
legal framework in the ROC; Assessment methodology and facility audits for
observe OEHS practices in the host country, the participants visited the
OEHS; Chemical and medical surveillance and monitoring; Data and inforUnited Microelectronic Corporation.
mation management; Business management, health, safety, and environment
9) Institutional credit should be provided to stimulate rural industrialization and employment generation. Such credit should be characterized by easy access, low interest rates, simple procedures, and
longer repayment schedules.
10) Concerted efforts of all stakeholders are needed to promote the development/improvement of rural-based agro-industries, especially of
SMEs and cottage industries, to generate more job opportunities in
rural areas and ensure sustainable rural development. Agro-based
SMEs must be productive, innovative, and flexible to survive in an era
of intense competition due to globalization and trade liberalization.
5
APO news July 2005