PATNA : Deputy CM
Sushil Kumar Modi said on Saturday the
ITC has proposed Rs500 crore investment in
Bihar to establish production units of biscuits, noodles, cookies and other food products.
ITC, which has been diversifying into fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs), has sought from the state government 60 acre land for its proposals.
Modi said senior ITC representative Sanjiv Puri called on him and submitted the investment proposal, apart from giving the details of the company's activities in the state in the agriculture and dairy sectors.
"ITC has already been active in the state for the last four years. It has entered into an agreement with farmers in the selected districts to purchase milk and select crops like wheat and maize as well as litchi," he said.
The company purchased one lakh metric tonne of quality wheat and maize from the farmers of Munger, Samastipur, Lakhisarai, Bhagalpur, Buxar, Begusarai and Banka districts, Modi said, adding it has been promoting cultivation of improved variety of crops for greater production and also doing breed improvement of milch cattle for higher yield of milk.
He said ITC has been extending support to 1.25 lakh farmers of 325 villages for the cultivation of improved variety of wheat on 60,000 acre land. The cultivation is done through zero tillage method, he added. Further, it has entered into an agreement with 1,500 farmers for the cultivation of improved variety of potato seeds on 750 acre land in five districts. Also, it has reached an agreement with farmers for the purchase of 1,500 metric tonne of litchi.
As to food processing and dairy, Modi said ITC has invested Rs400 crore in the state in the last four years. It includes establishment of a dairy unit at Munger that is processing 2 lakh litres of milk per day. The milk so processed is procured from 5,000 farmers of 400 villages, he added. He also said the company has been working on the improvement of breed of three lakh milch cattle.
Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi 
