Odisha mulls FDC to incubate food processing start ups

FDC will facilitate scale up process optimisation of new technologies available within the country and abroad

For conducting research and development of new products and processes out of the available raw materials in the state, Odisha mulls establishment of a food development centre (FDC).

The FDC will serve as an incubator for the start-ups. It will facilitate the scale up process optimisation of new technologies available within the country and abroad. The development centre will also provide industry linked services including quality testing and certification, consultancy and support to the start-up companies in the area of agro- food processing, according to the draft vision document on food processing in Odisha prepared by the Director of Industries and state mission director, National Mission on Food Processing.

"The FDC will be planned to have the process capacity to support a number of start-up companies for a limited time till they get a feel of the market and can attain in-house capacity for setting up their larger units. These units can also be used to produce the pilot lots under GMP (good manufacturing practices) of new products for testing and validation of their claims for nutritional or health benefits," read the document on food processing.

For providing market linkages, it is also proposed to create market development fund and schemes to assist the entrepreneurs for participating in food fairs outside the state and abroad and organizing road shows, fairs and events to attract investments to the state.

The vision paper also aims for revival and modernisation of supply chain infrastructure, establishment of new food processing units and modernisation of the old ones, setting up of fish marketing and modern meat processing infrastructure, etc.

The document envisions a well-developed agribusiness infrastructure with market linkages to reduce the high levels of wastages, which are currently pegged in the range of 30-35 per cent of the production. The mission director has sought views of the stakeholders of the sector for inclusion in draft document.