Mega food parks must to expand food processing: HSIIDC official

Setting up of mega food parks is the need of the hour to expand the scope of the food processing industry, says a PTI report, citing an official's statement from HSIIDC.

"Food processing is one of the thrust areas of Haryana's industrial policy. The state government has already set up parks at Saha and Rai and another one was in pipeline," Vineet Garg, Managing Director, Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) told PTI.

The official also mentioned that the National Mission for Food Technology has been launched in the state and a grant of Rs 20 crore has also been released for cold chain. National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship & Management (NIFTEM) at Kundli, Sonepat, on latest food technology, is also an enabler for the sector growth in the state.

Highlighting the importance of the food processing sector Gokul Patnaik, Chairman Conferences - CII Agro Tech 2014 and Chairman, Global Agri Systems Pvt Ltd told PTI, “Processing can help the current wastages in the sector. In India only 6-7 per cent of fruits are converted into processed foods whereas in other countries nearly 50 per cent of the fruits are processed.”

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has received a provision of Rs 5,000 crore from the government of India to support small industries. The organisation is also utilizing its efforts to strengthen the cold-storage mechanisms which will help in better storage of food products which can be processed further, the members added.

NABARD is also offering funds to support the setting up of food parks and expand it across the state.