Bhubaneswar, June 15: A mega food park is being set up in Rayagada district, the upcoming industrial hub in southern Odisha, to promote food-processing industry.
The proposed food park will provide facilities for 16 types of food-processing units.
Potential sectors included maize, rice, dairy industry, poultry, spices, fruits and vegetables, mango pulp, tomato puree, grains-milling and processing such as breakfast cereals, coffee, cashew processing, pickle industry, tamarind processing, ready-to-eat food products, soft drinks and natural juice.
Significantly, the project is being established in the undivided Koraput-Balangir-Kalahandi (KBK) region, which has a rich potential for food-processing industries.
It may be noted that the traditional farming system being practised in Koraput has been accorded the status of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
The food-processing industries have a huge employment potential. The mega food park is expected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunity for around 30,000 people. Moreover, tribal people, who collect forest products, will also be benefited by the project.
Koraput, which is considered as the cradle land of rice, produces hundreds of indigenous rice varieties. Besides, coffee and spices are also being cultivated in the region.
The project, funded by the Union agriculture ministry, is being set up in public private participation (PPP) mode. Around Rs 200 crore will be invested to create infrastructure.
The state-run Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and a few private organisations, including Expo Bio-Tech Limited, Keventor Agro Limited and Basanta Devi Charitable Trust, have come together to create a new organisation that will oversee the project.
The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation will provide the required infrastructure.
Rayagada district collector Niten Bhanudas Jawale told The Telegraph: “We are acquiring 60 acres for the project.”
The park will have its major primary processing centres at Khurda, Nawarangpur and Gopalpur in Ganjam. In subsequent phases, primary processing centres will also be set up in Koraput, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Subarnapur, Ganjam, Gajpati, Malkangiri, Boudh and Kandhamal districts. Besides, collection centres will be established in each block of these districts.
The KBK region produces coffee, spices, maize, mango, pineapple, jack fruit, tamarind, organic turmeric and several agri and horticultural products.
A fruit-processing unit was earlier set up by the Odisha horticulture department at Chatikona in Rayagada district in the foothills of the Niyamgiri hills.
However, the unit was closed because of lack of marketing linkage.
Patnaik, who chaired a co-ordination meeting yesterday, asked the micro, small and medium enterprise department to expedite formulation of Odisha’s food-processing policy and the operational guidelines.
The food-processing industries are entitled to tax benefits and incentives available for the special economic zone.
