Bhubaneswar, July 18: The state government today decided to expedite the process of establishment of three food parks and laid emphasis on having more cold storages.

The government will provide financial assistance to the tune of 50 per cent cost of plant and machinery and technical civil work up to Rs 10 crore to cold storages.

The food parks — Rayagada, Huma and Khurda — are being set up on public-private partnership mode with the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation providing infrastructure support.

Various farmers’ groups, self-help groups and individual farmers will provide raw materials to these parks where value-added products will be produced. The Rayagada park is being set up on 110 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 80.07 crore. So far 50 acres of land have been acquired.

At Huma in Ganjam district, the park will come up on an area of 72 acres at a cost of Rs 116 crore. In Khurda, the government has already acquired 161.86 acres and allotted 119. 37 acres of land to 70 units.

The state government’s food processing policy provides incentives such as land at concession, capital investment subsidy at the rate of 25 per cent of the project cost, interest subsidy, tax and electricity duty exemption as well as marketing support. Special subsidy at the rate of 20 per cent of project cost up to Rs 15 crore will also be available to mega food parks and sea-food parks.

The state has 25,689 micro, small and medium food processing units with an investment of Rs 1315.01 crore. These units will provide employment to 1.4 lakh persons.

Besides, there are 9 large-scale food-processing units with an investment of Rs 380.53 crore. These units are located in Rourkela, Paradip, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Khurda.

Six more food-processing industries are under implementation. Four of these industries will manufacture sugar, biscuits and aerated water.