Chief minister Manohar Joshi made these announcements at a press conference on the eve of the four-day Agro-Advantage Maharashtra to be held here from November 6. He said that 101 project from the agro sector with an investment of Rs 5,500 crore would be offered to investors during this meet which will be inaugurated by prime minister AB Vajpayee.

Joshi said that incentives would be offeredto the agri business as per the existing classification of industrial estates situated in developed and underdeveloped areas. These areas have been categorised as A, B, C, D and D plus.

Excess land owned by agricultural universities and government corporations will be given to the private sector on lease for 30 years, power supply to tissue culture, floriculture, pisciculture and cashewnut cultivation at Rs 2.25 per unit, power tariff of Rs 1.50 per unit to pre cooling and cold storages set up by cooperative sector, rebate in property tax on polyhouses and greenhouses to be charged by gram panchayats, reservation of certain space in five star industrial estates for agri business, separate agricultural commission for the development of this sector and setting up of an advisory committee to seek coordination between agriculture and irrigation departments.

State agriculture minister Harshvardhan Patil said that private sector participation will be sought in the operations of orange processing units at Katoland Mulshi in the Vidarbha region. In the proposed joint venture, Maharashtra Agro Industries Development Corporation which will work as a nodal agency for the growth of this sector will hold 40 per cent equity and the balance by the private sector. He said that an investment of Rs 40 crore would be required in these projects of which Rs 7.50 crore has been made.

Vikhe Patil said that seven projects have been identified by the state government wherein it will not hold not more than 26 per cent equity while the rest will be offered to the private sector.