Govt to launch scheme for small food processing clusters

Government will launch new scheme for development of small and medium scale processing clusters close to the growing areas of the specific farm produce, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today said.

"..in furtherance of the mandate of her ministry and for assisting small and medium enterprise in food processing sector, her ministry will very soon launch a scheme called "SAMPADA"," Badal said in statement here.

She was speaking here to highlight the achievements of the Narendra Modi government since 2014.

Under this scheme the focus would be on development of agri processing clusters close to the growing areas, she said.

For value addition and preservation of food, Badal said her ministry is contemplating to providing assistance to 100 new cold chain projects in near future through inviting Expression of Interest.

The government has sanctioned 37 Mega Food Parks, out of which 8 have been operationalised, six in two years of present government compared to two in ten years of the previous government.

We are committed to prevent wastage of food and increasing the processing level so that farmers should get better remuneration of their produce, she said.

Therefore, the government is paying much attention for creating the desired infrastructure for processing, preservation and storage of food, she added.