Government Programmes and Regulations for Agribusiness

Government Programmes for Agribusiness

Both the central government and state governments have devised programmes to woo the entrepreneurs for setting up agribusiness in India. They may be classified as programmes falling under small-scale industries, Khadi village industries, small and medium industries, large industries based on the finance required for investment. Apart from these to harness the export market after signing the WTO agreement. They include conversion of Export Processing Zones (EPZ) into Special Economic Zones (SEZ), establishment of Agri-export zones. For which government is attracting private investors to make investment in infrastructure development like cold storage chains, improvement in road, rail, sea and air transport systems.

The Ministry of Small Scale Industries & Agro and Rural Industries designs and implements the policies through its field organizations for promotion and growth of small and tiny enterprises, including the coir industries. The Ministry also coordinates with other Ministries / Departments on behalf the Small Scale Industries (SSI) sector.
The implementation of policies and various programmes/schemes for providing infrastructure and support services to small enterprises is undertaken through its attached office, namely the Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO), statutory bodies/other organizations likely Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) & Coir Board a Public Sector Undertaking - National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and three training institutes - National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training (NISIET), Hyderabad, National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), New Delhi and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati.

Entrepreneurial Training institutes

There are three institutes engaged in training of small-scale entrepreneurs. These are Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati, National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training (NISIET), Hyderabad, National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), New Delhi.

Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj

Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC) has been set up as an autonomous body in the year 1991 by Govt. of India with the assistance of UNDP/UNIDO and Govt. of U.P/UNDP/UNIDO has provided technical expertise and imported equipments. Govt. of U.P has provided land and building while Govt. of India has been contributing for indigenous equipments and recurring expenditure. Main objectives of the Centre is to serve, sustain and upgrade the status of farmers and industry engaged in the aromatic cultivation and its processing, so as to make them competitive both in the local and global market.

Export Processing Zones

The export zones (EPZ) set up as enclaves, separated from the Domestic Tariffs Areas by fiscal barriers, are intended to provide a competitive duty free environment for export production. There are four EPZs set up by the Government at Noida(Uttar Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Palta (West Bengal) and Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

Special Economic Zones

A new scheme for setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the country to promote exports was announced by the Government in the Export and Import Policy on 31st March, 2000. The policy provided for setting up of SEZs in the public, private, joint sectors or by State Governments. It was also announced that some of the existing Export Processing Zones would be converted into SEZs. Accordingly, the Government has issued notification on 1-11-2000 for conversion of the existing Export Processing Zones at Kandla (Gujarat), Santa Cruz(Maharashtra) and Cochin (Kerala) into SEZs. Notification has also been issued for conversion of the private sector EPZ at Surat (Gujarat) into the Special Economic Zone at the request of the promoters.

Export Oriented Units (EOU)

The export Oriented units (EOU) scheme introduced in the early 1981, is complementary to the EPZ scheme. It adopts the same production regime but offers a wide option in locations with reference to factors like source of materials, ports of export, hinter land facilities, and availability of technological skills, existence of industrial base and the need for a large area of land for the project. And 1,536 units are in operation under the EPU scheme as on March, 2001.

Product range: EOUs are mainly concentrated in textiles and yarn, food processing, electronics, chemicals, plastics, granites and minerals/ores. Majority of units are located in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,  Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) Scheme: A centrally sponsored “ Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) Scheme has been introduced in 1993-94 with a view to involving the State Governments in the creation of infrastructure facilities for export oriented production. The scheme provides that 75 % of the capital expenditure incurred towards creation of such facilities, ordinarily limited to Rs. 10 crores in each case, will be met from a central grant to the State Governments.

New Anna Marumalarchi Thittam: The State Government of Tamil Nadu has introduced the New Anna Marumalarchi Thittam in April 2002 to set up agribusiness units with a minimum investment of Rs 35 lakhs at the rate of one unit in each block. This scheme provides scope for setting 385 agribusiness units in Tamil Nadu.

Agri-Clinic and Agribusiness Centres:  Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium in co-operation with MANAGE has drawn plans to provide training on management capacity building for those willing to set up Agriclinics and Agribusiness Centres either  as individual or a group five (four agricultural and allied graduates and one management graduate) with a maximum loan assistance of Rs. 10 lakhs for individuals and Rs 50 lakhs for a group of five entrepreneurs.

Regulations
Legal regulations
Decisions are strongly affected by laws pertaining to competition, price setting, distribution arrangements, advertising, etc. It is necessary for a manager to understand the legal environment of the country and the jurisdiction of its courts. The following laws affecting business in India are important.