Focus: GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
- The Zoram Mega Food Park (MFP) in Mizoram was inaugurated by Minister of Food Processing Industries.
- This is the first Mega Food Park operationalized in the State of Mizoram.
- Under the Mega Food Park Scheme, Government of India provides financial assistance upto Rs. 50.00 Crore per Mega Food Park project.
The Benefits of the Park
- The Zoram Mega Food Park (MFP) will provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 persons and benefit about 25,000 farmers in the CPC (Core Processing Centre) and PPC (primary processing Centre) catchment areas.
- The Park will leverage an additional investment of about Rs. 250 Crore in about 30 food processing units in the park.
- The modern infrastructure for food processing created at the MFP will benefit the farmers, growers, processors and consumers of Mizoram and adjoining areas immensely.
- The park will help in enhancing the income of farmers and ensuring fair price of farm produce.
- The Facilities at Zoram MFP will not only reduce food wastage but would also lead to value addition in food products.
Mega Food Parks
- Mega Food Park is a scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing (part of the Government of India) with the aim of establishing a “direct linkage from farm to processing and then to consumer markets” through a network of collection centres and primary processing centres.
- Its purpose was to increase processing of perishables from 6% to 20% and to increase India’s share in global food trade by at least 3% up to year 2015.
- Government provides grants up to Rs 50 crores for each food park to a consortium of companies.
- Mega food park typically consist of supply chain infrastructure including collection centers, primary processing centers, central processing centers, cold chain and around 30-35 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up food processing units.
