Govt to make 4 mega food parks operational in 3 months

The Dollar Business Bureau

The government on Tuesday said that it is working for the development of food processing industry at a rapid pace and around 4 mega food parks will become operational in the coming three months.

The industry is keenly interested in food processing sector as the Central government has got 300 proposals for establishing new cold chains, it said.

“Just two mega food parks came into operation during 2009 and 2014, while 6 mega food parks became operational during the last three years – from 2014 to 2017. Similarly, 42 mega food parks will come into operation by 2019,” said Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, while speaking at an event organised by ASSOCHAM.

“Four mega food parks will become operational in the next three months,” she added.

In last three years, the government has given clearance for 63 cold chain projects and even more proposals for projects have been received.

“The government has received about 300 proposals for establishing new cold chain projects, which indicate that the industry across the country is now taking interest in the food processing sector. We have also received several applications from the north-eastern states such as Manipur, Nagaland and others,” the Minister said.

Though the government is working for the development of the country’s food processing sector at a quick pace, the industry should also have to provide training to the farmers so that they can take utmost care for quality of the produce, she stated.

The minister further said that she had given suggestion to her ministry for providing storage facility for perishable items in market itself such as for rice and wheat, so that the farmer can take his produce to the desired destination later.

“I hope this suggestion will be considered by the Cabinet,” she added.

Speaking about her latest meeting with Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, she said, “We and the state government will ensure that land, power, safety and all sorts of facilities will be provided to industrialists willing to set up food parks in the state.”