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Title: Need to set up a fruit processing industrial unit in Tiruppattur parliamentary Constituency, Tamil Nadu.
(TIRUPPATTUR): Sir, mango, citrus, cheeku and custard apple grow in plenty in places in and around Natrampalli, Chengam and Tiruppattur that come under my Tiruppattur Lok Sabha constituency. The soil and climate of this area is well suited for the abundant growth of these fruits. The adjoining districts like Krishnagiri, Salem and Dharmapuri also have growth of these fruits in plenty. In order to develop systematically the orchards and remuneratively tap this potential, a suitable infrastructure to process these fruits and streamlined marketing facility should be provided. As such, there is a need to set up a fruit processing industrial unit either in the public sector or in the private sector or in the co-operative sector. This would give an impetus to industrial growth over there providing job opportunities to thousands of people in a sustained manner. Our natural resources could earn foreign exchange too. Hence I urge upon the Union Food Processing Industries Ministry to evolve a comprehensive plan for this industrially backward area. Let the Centre intervene to set up infrastructural facility here.
* English translation of the speech originally delivered in Tamil.