TS Gets 2 New Mega Food Parks, AP One.

Telangana bagged two new Mega Food Parks and Andhra Pradesh one out of the 17 announced by the Union ministry of food processing industries (MoFPI) for various states recently.

While the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation will set up a Mega Food Park in Khammam district, private firm Raaga Mayuri Agrovet Private Limited will establish a Mega Food Park in Mahbubnagar district.

In Andhra Pradesh, the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation will establish a Mega Food Park at Agiripally in Krishna district. A deadline of 30 months is given for setting up of the parks.

Speaking to the state authorities during a video conference, Union minister for food processing industry Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that seven of the 17 parks were allotted to state governments for the first time. Currently, 25 such parks are under execution, four of which are functional. The 17 parks announced recently would be in addition to those, she said.

According to Kaur, the 42 Mega Food Parks would require an investment of Rs. 3,000 crore and the Union government would release Rs. 2,100 crore.

The 42 mega food parks were expected to have a total turnover of Rs. 21,000 crore, provide employment to 2.5 lakh people and benefit 12.5 lakh farmers, she said.

'This flagship programme of ours to create agro-processing hubs will be a giant leap towards 'Make in India'. We aim to set up two or three such parks in each state. But seven states are yet to meet the criteria,' the minister said.

APIIC chairman P Krishnaiah said Srini Mega Food Park in Chittoor is the first operational MFP and the Godavari Aqua Mega Food Park in West Godavari was nearing completion. The foundation stone for the newly-allotted park in Krishna district would be laid in 90 days. The central government gives a grant of Rs. 50 crore for each mega food park.


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