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, Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing a Mega Food Park Scheme in the country since 2008. Financial assistance uptoRs. 50.00 Crore is provided for setting up Mega Food Parks for creation of modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to consumer. A Mega Food Park is set up in an area of a minimum of 50 acres. Common facilities and enabling infrastructure is created at Central Processing Centre and Infrastructure for primary processing and storage is created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centres (PPCs) and Collection Centres (CCs). Ministry of Food Processing Industries had sanctioned a Mega Food Park to M/s North East Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd. at Nalbari, Assam. The Central Processing Centre of the Park at Tihu in Nalbari District of Assam has been completed and was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Assam, Shri Tarun Gogoi and Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal today on 28th May 2015.Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju was also present to grace the occasion.
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. 6 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, Smt 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.
Smt. Badal said 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. Minister of State for Home Mr. 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.