Raipur, 03 June 2021. In a virtual program, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the private sector Indus Best Mega Food Park at village Bemta-Sarora, Tilda development block of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameshwar Teli, Industries Minister of Chhattisgarh Kawasi Lakhma were present in this program organized through video conferencing.
Addressing the program, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the state government would give all possible help to every initiative taken by the private sector in the interest of farmers and forest dwellers, including the establishment of food processing units. The Chief Minister said that it is a matter of happiness that the private sector entrepreneurs have tested the possibilities of processing vegetables and fruits in Chhattisgarh and they are increasing their participation rapidly in the field of food processing. The Chief Minister said that it is the endeavor of the State Government to ensure that the farmers get the right price for their produce. For this the safety of the produce, Efforts are being made to set up a wide range of food parks for storage and processing. Preparations are being made to set up 110 food parks in Chhattisgarh. For this the land has been identified. A target has been set to establish at least one food park in each development block of the state. He said that all types of fruits and vegetables are produced in abundance in Chhattisgarh. Many a times farmers do not get the right price for their produce. Forest produce is also abundantly produced in the state. But due to lack of systematic system of collection and processing of forest produce, on many occasions the collectors do not get proper economic benefits. The Chief Minister said that in order to provide the farmers and forest dwellers the right price for their products, the State Government has started the process of processing these products by marking them area wise. Through self help groups collecting forest produce
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said on this occasion that today there is a need to increase the productivity of farmers’ crops, processing of agricultural and horticultural crops and farmers should get a fair price for their produce. For this, the central and state governments are working together. He said that Chhattisgarh should play a leading role in taking advantage of schemes to promote food processing.
Union Minister of State Rameshwar Teli said that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana has been implemented by the Central Government to strengthen the infrastructure of the food processing sector. The Industries Minister of Chhattisgarh, Kawasi Lakhma said that in the new industrial policy of the state government, a provision has been made to give grant along with allotment of land to the private sector for setting up of 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 fruit and vegetable pulp and tomato, mango, blueberry, papaya, guava. , Amla and Gourd, Bitter gourd pulp, Juice preparation of International standard processing and packaging facilities are available. Apart from this, 6650 metric ton capacity cold storage and 22 thousand metric ton dry warehouse facility is also available in the food park 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. 0 for rice, milk, maize, oil, tomato based processing units in the food park.
