Odisha to seek more Central funds for food processing units

The Odisha government would soon approach the Centre for allocation of more funds under the National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) with the rising demand for assistance from the entrepreneurs.

"The Chief minister will soon write to the prime minister for allocation of funds under NMFP as the allocations to the state have already been exhausted", Panchanan Dash , secretary, MSME department, told media persons.

The state government has spent about Rs 10 crore allocated to it under the mission mode programme.

It may be noted that the chief secretary has already written to the Union ministry of food processing for allocation Rs 20 crore, but the Centre is yet to allocate the money. "Odisha is the only state which has spent the allocations", Dash added.

About 60 industrial units are taken up under the NMFP. The units promoted under the programme include processing units for poultry, tamarind, rice, cashew among others.

Under the programme, subsidies have been disbursed to 25 industrial units while 35 more food units are in the pipeline.

The state government has identified processing of perishable goods as the focus area.

Speaking at a 'Workshop cum Investors' Meet on Food Processing' on the occasion of Odisha MSME Trade Fair-2015, Dash said, about one per cent of the agriculture produce is processed in the state compared to national average of around six per cent. "We are aiming to process about 25 per cent of the produce by 2025 at par with the target fixed by the Centre", he added.

The state hopes that a proposal put forth by Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) to set up a sea food park at Deras in Khurda district is likely to be approved by the Centre under the Mega Food Park Scheme. The sea food park has been planned on an area of 100 acres at an estimated cost of Rs 116.43 crore, inclusive of the land cost. The park, if approved, will fulfil the long standing demands of exporters and other stakeholders.

As many as 52 food processing units participated in the Odisha MSME Trade Fair-2015.