Raipur, 3 June 2021. Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar and Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh inaugurated Indus Best Mega Food Park of private sector in Bemta-Sarora village of Tilda block in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, in a virtual inauguration programme. Union Minister of State for Food Processing Mr. Rameshwar Teli and Industry Minister of Chhattisgarh Mr. Kawasi Lakhma were also attended the programme online.
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel said in his address to the inaugural programme that State Government would extend every possible support for every private sector initiative in interest of farmers and forest dwellers including the establishment of food processing units. Chief Minister said that it is a matter of joy that private sector entrepreneurs are exploring the scope of vegetable and fruit processing in Chhattisgarh and they are actively participating in the food processing sector. Chief Minister said that State Government intends to ensure that farmers get fair value of their production, for which consistent efforts are being made to establish a chain of 110 food parks in Chhattisgarh. Land plots for food parks have already been identified. State Government plans to establish at least one food park in each development block of the state. He further said that all kinds of fruits and vegetables are produced in Chhattisgarh but many a time farmers do not get fair value of their produce. Forest produce is also found abundantly in Chhattisgarh but due to absence of proper collection and processing system, collectors do not receive the profit they deserve on many occasions. Chief Minister said that State Government has identified such products region-wise and has started the processing work of these products. With the help of self-help groups engaged in forest produce collection, Van Dhan Centers have been established for forest produce processing.
On the occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that what we need at present is to boost the crop productivity of farmers, processing of agricultural and horticultural crops and fair price of produce for the farmers. For this, the central and state governments are working together. He said that Chhattisgarh should play a leading role in taking advantage of the schemes to promote food processing.
Union Minister of State Mr. Rameshwar Teli said that Central Government is implementing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana to strengthen the infrastructure of food processing sector. Chhattisgarh’s Industries Minister Mr. Kawasi Lakhma said that State Government’s new industrial policy has a provision of subsidy and land allotment to the private sector for setting up food parks.
Indus Best Mega Food Park, developed under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana and Mega Food Park scheme of Central Government Ministry of Food Processing at village Bemta-Sarora in Raipur district, has the international standard processing and packaging facilities for pulp extraction and juicing of fruit and vegetable and tomato, mango, blueberry, papaya, guava, amla and gourd, bitter gourd etc. Besides, the food park is also equipped with 6650 metric ton capacity cold storage and 22 thousand metric ton dry warehouse facility for peas, mango slices, papaya slices, leafy vegetables. A state-of-the-art laboratory has been set up at the Food Park for quality testing of the products. 150 square yards of plug and play sheds have been set up in the food park for small units and processors. The Food Park also has 30 industrial plots of 0.5 acres to one acre for rice, milk, maize, oil, tomato based processing units.
The virtual program was also attended by Central Secretary Smt. Pushpa Subramaniam, Chhattisgarh’s Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary Industries Mr. Manoj Kumar Pingua, Chairman of Indus Best Mega Food Park Mr. Rudra Sen Sindhu, Director Shri Satya Pal Sindhu, Editor of Dainik HariBhoomi Shri Himanshu Dwivedi also joined.
