🔆 Factors Responsible for Localization of Agro-Based Food Processing Industries in North-West India (UPSC Mains 2019) 📍 Region Covered: Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, parts of Rajasthan 📍 Key Contributing Factors ✅ Raw Material Availability • Fertile alluvial plains enable intensive agriculture • Rich in wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits & vegetables ✅ Irrigation & Water Resources • Extensive canal networks like Indira Gandhi Canal • Widespread tubewell irrigation ensures reliable water supply ✅ Favorable Climate • Temperate conditions support perishable crop cultivation (fruits, vegetables) ✅ Well-Developed Transport Network • Dense rail & road systems help raw material procurement and market linkage ✅ Policy Support • States like Punjab & Haryana offer subsidies, tax benefits, & infrastructure via food processing policies ✅ Mandis & Cold Chains • Strong presence of regulated mandis • Expanding cold storage and logistics chains enhance supply-chain efficiency ✅ Skilled & Semi-Skilled Workforce • Availability of local & migrant labor for production, packaging, and logistics ✅ Proximity to Large Markets • Delhi NCR & major cities act as key consumption hubs for processed food ✅ Research & Extension Support • Institutions like Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) aid with R&D, innovation, and farmer outreach 🔆 Conclusion A synergistic mix of agri-resource richness, policy incentives, market access, and infrastructure has made North-West India a hub for agro-based food processing industries. #geography