Centre to release Rs 47 cr for mega food park: Banteidor

SHILLONG, May 24: An amount of Rs 47 crore would be released by the Centre within June for the set up of the Mega Food Park in the state, according to Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh.
Lyngdoh, on Tuesday, said that Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras, assured to release the amount for the project after meeting the Union minister in Delhi on Monday to deliberate over important topics related to food processing sector.
“The Ministry is expected to release the fund for the Mega Food Park within June 15,” the Agriculture minister said. He, however, said that they are yet to identify the location for setting up the park.
“We will initiate the exercise to identify the land once the fund is release. The project will be jointly implemented by the industries and food processing departments,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, he said that the Union minister also assured to help entrepreneurs, cooperative societies and self-help groups that are keen on setting up mini food processing units.
The Ministry will provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for each unit, he added.
The Agriculture minister said that even the state government is ready to help those who are active and really up for setting up food processing units.
According to him, the department is looking to encourage setting up food processing units for fruit jams like pineapple, oranges, jackfruits among others. “We are also looking to set up more food processing unit for the Lakadong turmeric,” he said.
He added that the department will reach out to potential entrepreneurs, cooperative societies and self-help groups once everything is finalised.
“We are targeting to set up more than 50 new mini food processing centres. We will have to submit the proposal to the Ministry,” the minister added.