Government plans 10 food parks nationwide to aid food processing sector

Mumbai: The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) has approved a scheme to establish 10 mega food parks across the country and said it would grant half of the project costs.

The scheme would help the food processing industry grow and reach its potential and would also lead to greater share in the world food trade, a government statement said.

The government proposes to set up thirty mega good parks during the eleventh five year plan with pattern of assistance (grant-in-aid) at 50 per cent of the project cost in general areas and 75 per cent for North East region and difficult areas subject to maximum of Rs50 crore for creation of common infrastructure facilities and facilities for backward/forward linkages.

The a total grant-in-aid for the 10 food parks would be Rs500 crore while Rs25 crore will go towards project management fees at 5 per cent of the grant.

The scheme of infrastructure development envisages to raise the level of processing, value addition and reduction of the wastage of perishables viz, horticultural produce, live stock, marine, dairy etc. during the eleventh plan period in tune with the targets of the Vision 2015 of the ministry of food processing.

The scheme would help the food processing industry grow and realise its potential and would also lead to greater share in the world food trade, the release said.