Ministry of Food Processing Industries has sanctioned 16 new food processing /preservation and infrastructure projects with a total cost of Rs.230 crore with subsidy commitment of Rs.85 crore for Assam in the last one year. It include 3 agro-processing clusters or Mini Food Parks with the objective to create common modern food processing/preservation infrastructure facilities for the processing/preservation units, 12 food processing/preservation units and 1 backward and forward linkage infrastructure.
The Ministry has so far sanctioned 53 food processing/preservation projects in the different states of North East region in various supply chain component in the food processing sector with a total project cost of Rs. 980 crore and total subsidy commitment of Rs.480 crore. These projects will benefit about 3 lakh farmers in disposing of their surplus agri-produce and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for about 50,000 persons.
So far 16 projects have been completed and operationalized, benefiting about 70,000 farmers and creating direct and indirect employment for 6,500 persons.Hence food processing industries is being seen as a sector with great potential in the north east which can provide immense employment opportunities also.
The Government of India has been according top-most priority to North Eastern Region for its overall socio-economic development. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries as per the policy of the Government and in tune with the overall priorities to the region, has also been earmarking 10% of its budget for the implementation of its schemes and programmes in the region for the development of food processing sector.
