The key highlights of agro and food processing industry in Goa is given below:

1. Rich Agriculture Resources: Goa’s agro-climatic conditions are ideal for the cultivation of a variety of crops including rice, sugarcane, cashew, areca nut, coconut, fruits, vegetables, and spices.
2. Government Support: The Government of Goa offers various incentives for the Agro and Food Processing sector, such as subsidies, easy loan schemes, and infrastructure support, to encourage investment in this sector.
3. Increased Demand: With the growth in tourism and rapid urbanization, the demand for processed food and beverages has increased, opening up new opportunities for the food processing industry in Goa.
4. Export Opportunities: Given its coastal location, Goa enjoys the benefit of easy connectivity to international markets, thus providing ample export opportunities for the food processing sector.
5. Infrastructure Development: The state government has plans to create agro-processing parks equipped with processing facilities, labs, cold storage, warehousing, etc., to further boost the sector.
6. Skilled Labor: Goa’s literacy rate is among the highest in India, providing a pool of skilled labor for the industry.
7. Collaboration in Research and Development: The Goa government collaborates with various research institutions to improve productivity and quality in agricultural practices.
8. Cashew and Seafood Processing: Goa is a major processor of cashew nuts in India. It also has a significant presence in the seafood processing industry, given its long coastline and rich marine resources.
9. Organic Farming: The promotion of organic farming methods has led to the production of high-quality organic products, boosting the Agro and Food Processing sector in the state.
10. Sustainable Practices: The state encourages sustainable and eco-friendly practices in agriculture and food processing, contributing to the overall growth of the sector.

The policy targets for the Agro and Food Processing sector in Goa include:

1. Enhance Productivity: Increase agricultural productivity by improving farming practices, introducing high-yield crops and implementing modernization in farming.
2. Improve Infrastructure: Strengthen infrastructure facilities to support primary processing centers, cold storage chains, logistics, and warehousing.
3. Skill Development: Implement programs for training and skill development to enhance the manpower capabilities in this sector.
4. Promote Investment: Develop policies to attract investment, both domestic and international, in the Agro and Food Processing sector.
5. Increase Value Addition: Boost the level of processing of agricultural products to reduce post-harvest losses, improve product shelf-life and create value-added products.
6. Encourage Organic Farming: Promote sustainable farming practices, encourage organic farming and production of organic fertilizers.
7. Promote Research & Development: Enhance collaboration with research institutions to drive innovation in farming and food processing methodologies.
8. Strengthen Marketing: Establish efficient marketing networks for agricultural produce, enforce quality control measures and create brand identity for Goan products.
9. Expand Export Potential: Establish new markets for Goan agricultural products and processed food items, streamline export procedures and improve compliance with international standards.
10. Develop Agri Tourism: Given Goa’s strong tourism sector, integrating agro-tourism and farm tourism into the paradigm to add another layer of opportunity for the sector.

The key initiatives for the development of Agro and Food Processing sector is as follows:

1. Establishment of Agri Parks: The government has introduced the concept of Agri Parks. These include facilities like modern pack houses, cold storage, logistic services, and quality control labs to help farmers get better returns on their produce by reducing post-harvest losses.
2. Krishi Card Scheme: Under this scheme, farmers are provided with Krishi Card which entitles them to various benefits like subsidies, loans, and insurance.
3. Goa State Horticulture Corporation Limited (GSHCL): The corporation, under the aegis of the Government of Goa, supplies high-quality agricultural inputs to farmers and horticulture enthusiasts. It also seeks to implement policies and schemes for the development of horticulture in the state.
4. Chief Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (CMRY): A scheme was launched for educated unemployed youth, including those interested in agriculture and food processing, to encourage entrepreneurship.
5. Organic Farming Policy: The Goa government promotes organic farming and covers key aspects such as the creation of organic zones, support for certification, procurement, and marketing of organic produce.
6. Food Processing Policy: The government encourages investment in the food processing sector, particularly in areas such as fruits and vegetables, cashew, fisheries, bakery, and dairy.
7. Training and Development: The government runs several programs that offer training in modern farming practices, food processing technologies, and entrepreneurship development in the agro-food sector.
8. Support to Goat Farming: Goa government provides financial assistance for the construction of goat sheds, purchase of goats, feeding, and insurance coverage.
9. Promotion of Apiculture (Bee Keeping): The government provides financial assistance for the promotion of beekeeping in the state to boost honey production and as a means for pollination in horticulture crops.
10. Protection and rehabilitation of coconut trees: The government has initiated programs to protect and rehabilitate coconut trees, which are of immense importance to the state’s economy.

The Government of Goa provides a string of incentives to stimulate growth in the agricultural and food processing sector. Here are some of the key incentives:

1. Capital Investment: The Government provides grants and subsidies on the purchase of new equipment and machinery, the cost of technical civil works, and on expansion or diversification of existing units.
2. Special Packages for Mega Projects: The state offers tailored incentives for projects under food processing and value addition that have a substantial investment or employment potential.
3. Subsidies on Loans: The state provides capital investment subsidies on institutional finance availed by new agro and food processing units.
4. Tax Exemptions: Agro and food processing units are usually exempt from certain taxes, including stamp duty, registration fees, state GST, and more on eligible fixed capital investments.
5. Skill Development: The Government of Goa also aids with skill upgradation and development which includes vocational training, research, and development.
6. Infrastructure Development: Financial aid is often offered for the development of necessary infrastructure for industry growth, such as agro-processing parks.
7. Marketing Assistance: Concessions are provided for marketing costs including product branding, designing of packaging, and market research for agro and food processing units.

Goa has several major clusters and parks for agro and food processing industries including:

1. Horticulture Estate at Dharbandora: This estate is a significant cluster for the horticulture industry. It includes facilities like cold storage, primary processing platforms, and other modern facilities to aid farmers.
2. Industrial Estates: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation manages a variety of industrial estates across the state, many of which house food processing units. These estates are in regions like Madkaim, Sancoale, Verna, Kundiam, Bethora, and more.
3. Seafood and Fisheries Cluster: Given the state’s extensive coastline, there are several areas like Cutbona, Malim, and Usgaon where industries related to fisheries and seafood processing have grown.
4. Cashew Processing Clusters: Goa has multiple regional clusters known for processing cashew nuts, one of the state’s significant agricultural produces.