MPFI proposes to set up mega Food Park in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 30 (UNI) The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MFPI) has proposed to set up a mega Food Park in Meghalaya with a view to promoting the food processing sector in the North Eastern states.

The proposed Food Park would be set up at Byrnihat bordering Assam, and a detailed feasibility and project report was under process and likely to be finalised within the next two months, Meghalaya Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee told a news conference in presence of MFPI Joint Secretary Ajit Kumar here today.

The MPFI had asked the Meghalaya government to take steps to identify land for establishing the mega Food Park, he said.

Mr Chatterjee said the Meghalaya government would also approach the DONER and NEC for fund to acquire land and better infrastructure, and funding pattern would be 75:25 ratio and each centre would be provided with Rs 10 crore with a cap of Rs 50 crore.

Apart from the mega Food Park, the MPFI had proposed to set up four collection centres equipped with cold-chain facility in every state of the North east to avoid wastage of perishable items, he said.

The establishment of such units would help farmers tremendously market their produce without the involvement of middlemen, the Chief Secretary said.

Union Minister in-charge Food and Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai, who visited the state, had said fruits and vegetables worth more than Rs 50,000 crore were perishing in India every year due to absence of processing facilities.

UNI