Syllabus Section : Economy

Why in news?

Mega Food Park inaugurated in Punjab.

About :

• Mega Food Park is a scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing (part of the Government of India) with the aim of establishing a "direct linkage from farm to processing and then to consumer markets" through a network of collection centres and primary processing Centres.

• Its purpose was to increase processing of perishables from 6% to 20% and to increase India's share in global food trade by at least 3% up to year 2015.

Highlights of scheme

• Government provides grants up to Rs 50 crores for each food park to a consortium of companies.

• 30-35 food processing units are expected to be established.

• Collective investment of companies is expected to be at least 250 crores.

• A turnover of 400-500 crore and employment generation of at least 30000 from each mega food park is expected.

• A total of 42 Mega Food Parks have been sanctioned so far by MoFPI in six phases.

• These MFPs are to ensure backward linkages to the farmers, SHGs, JLVs etc. & enhance farmer income.

• Each MFP is supposed to connect with 25000 farmers.

• Government has envisaged building quality labs at each of the food parks as well

 

Source – The Hindu