Odisha moots mega food park in Koraput

MoFPI has approved a total of 40 mega food park projects in as many as 23 states in various stages of implementation

The Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited (OAIC), a state PSU, is keen to set up a mega food park in Koraput district, under the Mega Food Park scheme of the Union ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

“Since the state government is now emphasising on agro based industries, OAIC is taking initiative for establishment of a mega food park in Koraput with support from the state and Central governments,” said Subrata Kumar Mishra, managing director, OAIC.

Keeping in view the availability of raw material and socio-economic condition of people in Koraput, which is a scheduled area, we have expressed interest to set up the park there, he added.

The move from OAIC follows a recent letter from MoFPI asking the Odisha government to send proposals for developing new mega food parks in the state in line with the amended guidelines of Mega Food Park Scheme.

Under the revised guidelines, the state governments/state government entities/cooperatives have been allowed to promote mega food park projects without the requirement of forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and are exempted from setting up a processing unit in the park, among others.

The ministry, which is implementing mega food park scheme with the aim to create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing industries on cluster basis, has already invited fresh expression of interest (EoI) as per the amended guidelines.

MoFPI has approved a total of 40 mega food park projects in as many as 23 states which are in various stages of implementation.

OAIC has submitted an EoI to the state MSME department. The department has directed OAIC to submit a DPR (detailed project report) to the Centre. “We will submit it before April 30,” Mishra added.

In the state, two mega food parks - Huma Coastal Mega Food Park in Ganjam and MITS Mega Food Park at Rayagada were approved by the ministry. However, the in-principle approval of Huma Coastal Mega Food Park has been canceled on the ground of delay in complying with the norms of the project.