Latest news with #Assocham-organised
The Print
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
Bengal focuses on food processing, horticulture to boost investment
'The state's food processing sector has witnessed significant growth and the government is committed to attracting more investments in this sector,' Roy said. Speaking at an Assocham-organised conclave, Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Minister Arup Roy said the state is focusing on modernising horticulture with advanced planting materials, high-yielding seeds, model nurseries, organic farming, post-harvest management, cold chain infrastructure, and promoting protected cultivation. Kolkata, Jul 15 (PTI) West Bengal is ramping up efforts to boost its food processing and horticulture sectors through a series of initiatives aimed at attracting investment and modernising farming practices, a state minister said on Tuesday. He added that the area under maize cultivation will be expanded by 60,000 hectares over the next three years to meet rising demand for animal, poultry and fish feed. Roy also highlighted the importance of empowering women in agriculture, noting that they make up 70 per cent of the sector's workforce in the state. Highlighting West Bengal's potential, Smaraki Mahapatra, department secretary, said the state produces about 163 lakh tonnes of vegetables and 40 lakh tonnes of fruits annually, with significant surpluses that can be tapped for exports through investments in cold chains and logistics. Mahapatra said that the government is supporting tissue culture for crops such as banana, pineapple, blueberry and ginger and sees strong investment opportunities in value addition and post-harvest infrastructure. 'In FY25, 24,213 units in the food processing sector were set up in the state. A partnership between government, farmers, FPOs and entrepreneurs is key to unlocking the sector's full potential,' the officer said. West Bengal's unique geography, stretching from the Himalayas to the coast, makes it ideal for diverse agricultural activities, including the cultivation of medicinal plants with potential in Ayurvedic treatments, Mahapatra added. PTI BSM NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
West Bengal gears up for rare earth mining in Purulia
West Bengal is set to join India's rare earth mining map with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducting advanced exploration in Purulia district , a senior official said on Friday. Although the rare earth deposit in Purulia is relatively small, the development is significant as India looks to reduce dependence on imports of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and renewable energy technologies . "G2-level exploration is underway in two blocks - one in Karbi Anglong district of Assam and the other in Purulia, West Bengal," GSI Director General Asit Saha said on the sidelines of the Assocham-organised 3rd edition of Minerals and Mining conclave. He added that these blocks are expected to be ready for auction within a year. The G2 stage represents an advanced level of exploration, providing a fairly high degree of confidence in the resource estimation. Upon completion, the findings will be submitted to the respective state mines departments and the Union Ministry of Mines for further action, Saha said. While GSI has not identified specific rare earth elements in these locations yet, Saha said the deposits typically consist of a "basket of 14-17 rare earth minerals," making the extraction and processing technically challenging. He noted that India has discovered promising vanadium deposits - another critical mineral - in the lower Himalayan belt. "We have very good vanadium resources in the Himalayan region, which are essential for energy storage and alloy production," Saha said. According to him, nearly 50 per cent of ongoing early-stage exploration projects in the country are focused on rare earth elements, reflecting their growing strategic importance. However, operationalisation of mines faces challenges, including land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, and lack of private sector interest. Separately, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that the central government will soon launch a Rs 1,345 crore scheme to boost manufacture of rare earth magnets domestically. These magnets are critical components in electric motors used in EVs, wind turbines, and defence applications. India is also actively pursuing lithium exploration , with 20 projects spread across four to five states, officials said. PTI
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
West Bengal gears up for rare earth mining in Purulia
West Bengal is set to join India's rare earth mining map with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducting advanced exploration in Purulia district , a senior official said on Friday. Although the rare earth deposit in Purulia is relatively small, the development is significant as India looks to reduce dependence on imports of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and renewable energy technologies . "G2-level exploration is underway in two blocks - one in Karbi Anglong district of Assam and the other in Purulia, West Bengal," GSI Director General Asit Saha said on the sidelines of the Assocham-organised 3rd edition of Minerals and Mining conclave. He added that these blocks are expected to be ready for auction within a year. The G2 stage represents an advanced level of exploration, providing a fairly high degree of confidence in the resource estimation. Upon completion, the findings will be submitted to the respective state mines departments and the Union Ministry of Mines for further action, Saha said. While GSI has not identified specific rare earth elements in these locations yet, Saha said the deposits typically consist of a "basket of 14-17 rare earth minerals," making the extraction and processing technically challenging. He noted that India has discovered promising vanadium deposits - another critical mineral - in the lower Himalayan belt. "We have very good vanadium resources in the Himalayan region, which are essential for energy storage and alloy production," Saha said. According to him, nearly 50 per cent of ongoing early-stage exploration projects in the country are focused on rare earth elements, reflecting their growing strategic importance. However, operationalisation of mines faces challenges, including land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, and lack of private sector interest. Separately, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that the central government will soon launch a Rs 1,345 crore scheme to boost manufacture of rare earth magnets domestically. These magnets are critical components in electric motors used in EVs, wind turbines, and defence applications. India is also actively pursuing lithium exploration , with 20 projects spread across four to five states, officials said. PTI
NDTV
12-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
West Bengal Gears Up For Rare Earth Mining In Purulia District
Kolkata: West Bengal is set to join India's rare earth mining map with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducting advanced exploration in Purulia district, a senior official said on Friday. Although the rare earth deposit in Purulia is relatively small, the development is significant as India looks to reduce dependence on imports of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and renewable energy technologies. "G2-level exploration is underway in two blocks - one in Karbi Anglong district of Assam and the other in Purulia, West Bengal," GSI Director General Asit Saha said on the sidelines of the Assocham-organised 3rd edition of Minerals and Mining conclave. He added that these blocks are expected to be ready for auction within a year. The G2 stage represents an advanced level of exploration, providing a fairly high degree of confidence in the resource estimation. Upon completion, the findings will be submitted to the respective state mines departments and the Union Ministry of Mines for further action, Saha said. While GSI has not identified specific rare earth elements in these locations yet, Saha said the deposits typically consist of a "basket of 14-17 rare earth minerals," making the extraction and processing technically challenging. He noted that India has discovered promising vanadium deposits - another critical mineral - in the lower Himalayan belt. "We have very good vanadium resources in the Himalayan region, which are essential for energy storage and alloy production," Saha said. According to him, nearly 50 per cent of ongoing early-stage exploration projects in the country are focused on rare earth elements, reflecting their growing strategic importance. However, operationalisation of mines faces challenges, including land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, and lack of private sector interest. Separately, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that the central government will soon launch a Rs 1,345 crore scheme to boost manufacture of rare earth magnets domestically. These magnets are critical components in electric motors used in EVs, wind turbines, and defence applications. India is also actively pursuing lithium exploration, with 20 projects spread across four to five states, officials said.
The Print
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Print
West Bengal gears up for rare earth mining in Purulia
'G2-level exploration is underway in two blocks – one in Karbi Anglong district of Assam and the other in Purulia, West Bengal,' GSI Director General Asit Saha said on the sidelines of the Assocham-organised 3rd edition of Minerals and Mining conclave. Although the rare earth deposit in Purulia is relatively small, the development is significant as India looks to reduce dependence on imports of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and renewable energy technologies. Kolkata, Jul 11 (PTI) West Bengal is set to join India's rare earth mining map with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) conducting advanced exploration in Purulia district, a senior official said on Friday. He added that these blocks are expected to be ready for auction within a year. The G2 stage represents an advanced level of exploration, providing a fairly high degree of confidence in the resource estimation. Upon completion, the findings will be submitted to the respective state mines departments and the Union Ministry of Mines for further action, Saha said. While GSI has not identified specific rare earth elements in these locations yet, Saha said the deposits typically consist of a 'basket of 14-17 rare earth minerals,' making the extraction and processing technically challenging. He noted that India has discovered promising vanadium deposits – another critical mineral – in the lower Himalayan belt. 'We have very good vanadium resources in the Himalayan region, which are essential for energy storage and alloy production,' Saha said. According to him, nearly 50 per cent of ongoing early-stage exploration projects in the country are focused on rare earth elements, reflecting their growing strategic importance. However, operationalisation of mines faces challenges, including land acquisition issues, environmental clearances, and lack of private sector interest. Separately, Union Heavy Industries Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday announced that the central government will soon launch a Rs 1,345 crore scheme to boost manufacture of rare earth magnets domestically. These magnets are critical components in electric motors used in EVs, wind turbines, and defence applications. India is also actively pursuing lithium exploration, with 20 projects spread across four to five states, officials said. PTI BSM NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
