Idco for feasibility study on 20 new food parks

The state-owned agency for land acquisition, Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has stressed on carrying out feasibility study for 20 new agro/food processing parks.

Vishal Dev, chairman and managing director, Idco has written to the departments of agriculture and MSME (micro, small & medium enterprises) to take up feasibility study of the prospective locations for the parks. The final locations selected for the parks is to be intimated to Idco to obtain land for establishment of agro and food processing parks.

At the recent meeting of the state level coordination committee of mega food parks held under the chairmanship of state chief secretary G C Pati, it was decided that Idco would set up 20 new agro/food processing parks.

Idco would set up these parks in consultation with agriculture and MSME departments. While Idco will prepare techno-feasible report for 15 mega food parks, Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) will undertake the task for five parks. Recently, an inter-ministerial committee of the Centre has approved a proposal to set up sea food park at Khurda. This park, to be established at a cost of Rs 116.26 crore and implemented by Idco, will enhance the sea food processing capacity in the state by 60,000 tonne per annum. It is proposed to accommodate 41 sea food processing units in this complex.

OSIC and Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (OAIC) have also evinced interest to set up mega food parks in Jharsuguda and Koraput districts respectively.

The state government has come out with its food processing policy that provides a special capital investment subsidy up to Rs 15 crore along with other sops.