FPI's ministry sanctions processing industries projects in NE

Shillong, JulY 12 (UNI) The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has approved various projects for setting up food processing industries in the North East (NE) Region.

Official sources here said today the ministry has sanctioned Rs 11.85 crore for 2006-07 for Mini Mission IV implemented under the Technology Mission for integrated development of horticulture.

For Meghalaya, Rs 21.85 lakh was given for technology upgradation/modernisation/expansion of Food Processing Industries.

A cold storage project was approved during the 10th plan period, as well as assistance provided to the Food Processing and Training Centres. Thirty-nine such centres were also aided in the other NE states during the period.

The Mini Mission is designed to address all the issues of processing and marketing of horticulture produce in the region, the official said.

The micro mission is being implemented through the Small Agri Business Consortium, under which three components approved for promotion of new units, upgradation and modernisation of existing units and promotional activities.

Under the mission, higher level of incentives than admissible under the normal plan schemes of the Ministry are available in the form of credit linked and back ended financial aid through designated financial institutions to the extent of 50 per cent of the capital cost subject to maximum of four crore rupees for promotion of new units and upto one crore rupees for upgradation/modernisation of units.

UNI