The Bengal government on Saturday organised at Nabanna the state’s first-ever agri-business meet with 220 participants from agro-related businesses, with the objective of exploring opportunities of linking agriculture with industry for the benefit of stakeholders in both.

Bengal chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi chaired the meeting during which a decision to form a core group, with officials from Calcutta and the districts, was taken to work out a roadmap to promote agro-industries in the state.

“It is our chief minister who guided us to focus on linking agriculture sectors to industries across Bengal. This will lead to economic growth for both the farmers and investors in agro-based products as our state is a leading producer of several crops like rice, jute and vegetables. In rural areas, small scale agro-based industries will help generate employment,” said Pradip Majumdar, the agriculture adviser to chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

At the meet, government officials took suggestions from investors in agro-based business to know how the state government could help them promote their business across Bengal.

Representatives of agro-businesses such as rice mill owners, rice bran oil producers, poultry and fish feed producers also spoke about their individual requirements from the government to grow their businesses with the help of farmers.

The development came after Mamata had on Thursday at a government programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium stressed the need to promote agro-based industries in the state for betterment of the farmers.

The chief minister said investment did not only mean those related to heavy industries. “There are so many opportunities in agriculture based industries in Bengal. We will focus on this,” she had said.

Officials said that the chief minister sought to enhance rural economy in Bengal by empowering farmers, and small-scale agriculture-based industries in villages formed a big part of the plan.

Senior officials with the agriculture department said production of multiple crops had increased in Bengal in the past 10 years and farmers now needed to access different markets to sell their produce.

“We are the highest paddy producing state but our state does not have many rice bran oil producing units. If oil producing units come up with their new units, rice bran will be a profit-earning item for farmers,” said a senior state government official.

Bengal is the leading producer of rice, jute, vegetables and fish seeds. Maize and pulse production in Bengal have increased in recent years.