Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has said that the food processing sector can become a major driver of the state’s economy while increasing farmers’ incomes and creating new employment and self-employment opportunities for youth.
Addressing a food processing session at the UP International Trade Show 2026 in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Maurya said the state government was continuously working to promote the sector and had introduced the Food Processing Policy-2023 for the purpose.
He said Uttar Pradesh has abundant agricultural and horticultural produce and stressed the need to connect farmers with the entire value chain—from production and processing to packaging, branding and marketing—instead of treating them merely as sellers of raw produce. Such integration, he said, would increase farmers’ incomes and create employment opportunities at the local level.
Citing modern carrot production and marketing in Gautam Buddh Nagar as an example, Maurya said product-specific clusters could be developed in different districts to provide better markets for agricultural produce. He emphasised that quality products should be promoted in domestic as well as international markets to reduce wastage and secure better returns for farmers.
Referring to honey production and beekeeping, he said products meeting international quality standards could find markets in Europe, the US and Canada. He encouraged young people to explore entrepreneurship in beekeeping, honey production and food processing.
Maurya highlighted incentives available under the state’s food processing policy. He said entrepreneurs using solar energy to meet the power requirements of food processing units can avail themselves of a subsidy of up to 50 per cent for male entrepreneurs and up to 90 per cent for women entrepreneurs.
He urged entrepreneurs to study government policies and make full use of the facilities available. He said District Resource Persons were being engaged to identify potential entrepreneurs and assist them in setting up enterprises. Coordination with banks was also being strengthened to ensure that entrepreneurs receive benefits without unnecessary delays.
The Deputy Chief Minister said government subsidies should facilitate the establishment of sustainable and employment-generating enterprises rather than merely serve as financial assistance. He called for greater commitment from entrepreneurs to establish and successfully operate their units.
Maurya said Uttar Pradesh was rapidly advancing as an industrial and investment destination. He noted that states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had traditionally been cited as examples of industrial development, but Uttar Pradesh was now strengthening its position with the support of entrepreneurs and investors.
He called for the establishment of local processing units and enterprises up to the Gram Sabha level. Such units, he said, could provide better prices to farmers, create employment for rural youth and strengthen the rural economy.
Highlighting the role of the UP International Trade Show, Maurya said the event was providing entrepreneurs from Uttar Pradesh with opportunities to connect with global markets. He said the state welcomed foreign investment but wanted international companies to invest and manufacture in India and Uttar Pradesh, thereby generating local employment and economic activity.
He urged entrepreneurs to adopt new technologies, maintain high quality, improve packaging and follow international standards to expand the reach of Uttar Pradesh-made products in domestic and global markets.
During the event, Maurya also inspected stalls under the presentation on ‘Food Processing Policy-2023’. He distributed demo cheques to beneficiaries of food processing schemes and certificates of appreciation to women members of self-help groups.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) Narendra Kumar Kashyap, Minister of State Hansraj Vishwakarma, Additional Chief Secretary, Horticulture and Food Processing Department, B.L. Meena, Special Secretary Raj Kamal Yadav, Deputy Director M.P. Singh, senior officials of the Food Processing Department, public representatives, entrepreneurs and representatives from various sectors participated in the programme.
