Mega Food Park underway

Khammam: The Mega Food Park at Buggapadu village near Sathupalli which remained a non-starter for the last seven years will soon become a reality following the Central government’s decision to sanction Rs 141.03 crore as part of its plans to boost food processing industries in the country.

• Centre sanctions `141.03 crore for the park to come up in Khammam district
• To give a fillip to food processing and agro-based industries

The project has been pending since 2008 after the then UPA government’s initiative to tap the potential of the food processing industry which forms an important segment of the country’s economy in terms of contribution to GDP, employment and investment. It may be mentioned here that only 2 per cent of total fruits, vegetables and grains produced in the country are processed.

Considering Khammam district’s potential for raising horticultural crops, the Centre then proposed the project to give a fillip to food processing and agro-based industries in the region. According to an estimate, mangoes and chillies are cultivated in an area of one lakh acres each in the district while banana, sweet lemon, papaya, vegetables and other horticultural crops account for one more lakh acres.

After the foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) Ltd has acquired 197 acres of government land at Buggapadu village. Out of which, land measuring 145 acres was earmarked exclusively for setting up food-based industries. Thereafter, neither the government nor the entrepreneurs had shown interest in the project.

While announcing the sanction of funds a couple of days ago, the Food Processing Industries Ministry made it clear that the basic infrastructure in this Mega Food Park will be set up within 30 months. The Park will have provision to house around 40 to 50 food processing units.

Besides providing employment to a few thousand people, the Mega Food Park is expected to benefit lakhs of farmers. Most importantly once the project becomes a reality, the middlemen’s sway over farmers will come to an end as the food park will house a cold storage unit along with other infrastructure.

“The Food Park, which helps farmers get a remunerative price, will also boost the economy of the region besides encouraging the cultivators to go for more production,” K. Suryanarayana, Assistant Director of Horticulture, told The Hans India on Thursday. He said that the Park will also propel the establishment of several ancillary units generating more employment opportunities.