Mega Food Park inaugurated at Nalbari, Assam

GUWAHATI:To give a major boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage and loss at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables,Union Minister for Food Processing Industries  Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated a mega food park on Thursday at Nalbari, Assam.

North East Mega Food Park has been set up in 50 acre of land at the cost of Rs. 76 crore.This project is having facilities of fully operational industrial sheds for SMEs, developed industrial plots for lease to food processing units, Dry Warehouse of 10000 MT, Cold Storages of 3000 MT, Common Effluent Treatment plant, Quality Control Labs etc. The Park also has a common administrative building for office and other uses by the entrepreneurs. Six PPCs are also proposed to be set up at Nagaon, Badarpur, Tinsukia, Barapani, Krishnai and Kajalgaon which will provide facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms.

Speaking on the occasion, Badal said that the Mega Food Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs. 250 crore in 30-35 food processing units in the Park and generate a turnover of about Rs. 450-500 Crore annually. The Park will also provide direct and indirect employment to 6000 people and benefit about 25000-30000 farmers in the CPC and PPC catchment areas.

Badal  also added that the modern infrastructure for food processing created at North East Mega Food Park will benefit the farmers, growers, processors and consumers of Assam and adjoining areas immensely and prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the State of Assam.

Among others, Chief Minister, Assam,  Tarun Gogoi,Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju were present to grace the occasion.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that the Mega Food Park shall go a long way in helping the farmers of the North East. He said that the NE Region has great potential for Food Processing and the Government has taken many steps to promote the Food Processing sector as well as Organic Farming in the region.