The meeting in progress in Ranchi on Saturday. (Prashant Mitra)

Ranchi, April 2: In a bid to help local farmers reap the benefit of processing fruits and vegetables, the Jharkhand State Adivasi Cooperative Vegetable Marketing Federation Limited (Vegfed) has decided to open retail outlets in different cities.

Vegfed managing director R.N. Jha today said that the outlets would be launched later this year at different places, starting with Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Ranchi.

“The outlets will have stocks of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the state which will be evenly priced,” he said.

Vegfed today organised a one-day state level workshop in the state capital to teach farmers the benefits of food processing and how the government can help local entrepreneurs and farmers enrich their products.

Kalpana Palit, a local entrepreneur, said farmers in Jharkhand were still unaware of the avenues available to reap maximum profits.

Citing an example, Palit said that jackfruits, which grow in abundance in the state, are a rare commodity in the market.

When the fruit is processed and packed, it is sold at Rs 100 per kg in Delhi, the profit of which does not filter down to the local farmer.

A Vegfed official said food processing had not caught on with local farmers because it was still considered a small-scale industry.

Food management had to be practised, for which the government was ready to lend its support, the official added.

Cooperative minister Haji Hussain Ansari assured all possible help and support from the government to aid farmers and entrepreneurs by offering expertise and advise on running food processing units in the state.

“Our objective is to ensure that our people get the best available prices with the support of the department. There is a tremendous potential in Jharkhand in terms of climate and soil conditions. There are many fruits and vegetables, which are grown in abundance here, that will fetch a handsome price in markets outside the state,” Ansari said.