Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras and Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel virtually inaugurates the projects
The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Pashupati Kumar Paras and Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, virtually inaugurated five food processing projects in the states of Assam, Gujarat and Karnataka.
The total cost of these five projects is about Rs 124.44 crores, and the Ministry has given a grant of Rs 28.02 crores for these projects. These projects will also provide direct and indirect employment to about 820 people and benefit about 7700 farmers in the catchment areas.
In his address, Paras said that the Central Sector Scheme – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana was launched in 2016-17, keeping in mind the need of the food processing sector. The primary objective of this scheme is to promote cluster-based development of food processing activities. The scheme can also be seen as a comprehensive package that will create modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm to retail outlets.
He further added that providing better income for agricultural products and generating employment are amongst the government’s top priorities. The Government of India is constantly striving to make the country a flexible food economy and the world’s food factory. The government has made food processing a major-thrust area of “AatmaNirbharBharat.”
Taking forward the commitment, five projects have been launched today in which the ministry has been instrumental.
Delighted over the launch of the projects and congratulating all the promoters, Patel said that your success would send a message and inspire others. He added that if something isn’t damaged or over-produced, and we are working towards saving it, it is not for industry or any individual, but the nation. If the farmer gets the right price for the agricultural produce, and the processed food is exported worldwide, in that case, it will strengthen the Indian food processing sector.
The projects inaugurated are Phoenix Frozen in Anand, Gujarat; Athos Collagen from Surat, Gujarat; Hain Future Natural Products from Tumkur, Karnataka; Graintech Foods from Nalbari, Assam; Vasant Masala from Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
