Centre's Nod for Two Mega Food Parks in the State.

The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries recently gave its nod for two new Mega Food Parks (MFP) in the state. They will come up under the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) and are among 17 MFPs sanctioned across the country recently.

While the KINFRA MFP planned at Palakkad is of a general nature, KSIDC is planning a seafood park at Cherthala in Alappuzha district. Both units will get Rs. 50 crore each as Central assistance. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, announced the 17 new projects through video conference from New Delhi.

KINFRA's MFP will come up on 73 acres at an estimated cost of Rs. 121.92 crore including the Central aid of Rs. 50 crore, KINFRA MD G C Gopala Pillai said. The central processing facility will be located on KINFRA land in Elapully and Pudussery villages in Palakkad. There will be five primary processing centres at Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur and Ernakulam for sourcing the raw materials. There will be 15 collection centres in Palakkad, Kannur, Wayanad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

This MFP will have food processing units dealing in coconut, fruit, spice and starch-based products and value added products made from rice in addition to bakery and ethnic preparations. The KSIDC's seafood park will come up on 65 acres of KSIDC land at Pallipuram, Cherthala, KSIDC MD M Beena said. This MFP is estimated to cost Rs 125 crore and will cater to marine food processing industries.

'Many seafood parks have shown interest in setting up the processing units in the MFP. With specialised infrastructure, the processors can come up with value added products in the marine food sector,' KSIDC said.

The two projects are among seven MFPs sanctioned by State Governments. The remaining 10 are private enterprises. The centre has set a 30-month deadline for commissioning the MFPs.

HIGHLIGHTS

■ Mega Food Park projects of KINFRA and KSIDC get Centre's nod.

■ KINFRA project to come up in Palakkad at a cost of Rs. 121.92 crore.

■ KSIDC's seafood park to be set up in Cherthala at a cost of Rs. 125 crore.

■ Both parks to get a Central assistance of Rs. 50 crore each.

■ The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries sanctions 17 new MFPs.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS