Problems of agro based food industries in Kanyakumari district

Abstract

Large scale disguised unemployment is one of the main characteristics of most of the densely populated under developed economy4. These economies suffer from the problem of rural over-population, mainly dependent on agriculture as a means of livelihood. With unchanged techniques of production a large part of the population engaged in agriculture and allied activities may be removed without reducing the output. This disguised rural unemployment is the main obstacle to economic development. A solution for the problem lies in industrialisation of rural areas by starting more number of agro-based food industries. These industries provide productive employment for the rural population. The concentration of industries in urban areas increases the disparities between the rural and urban income levels. Starting of more agro-based food industries serves as an effective means of reducing rural-urban disparities. It stops migration of people from rural to urban areas and accelerates the process of rural development. In brief, agro-based food industries play an effective role in rural transformation, generation of balanced socio-economic development through an increase in gainful employment and a rise in income levels of rural people engaged in agriculture. Agro-based food industries need a special attention since their importance in the Indian context gets further enhancement.