Horticulture and food processing minister Madhya Pradesh Kusum Mahdele has urged investors to take interest in setting up food industries in her state. According to her, there are better investment possibilities to set up food processing units in the state in view of increased production of food grains, horticulture crops and milk. Mahdele said this while addressing 'MP Food-Tech 2015' organised by Union food processing ministry and Indian Chamber of Commerce recently.
Mahdele felt that food processing units were less in number in proportion to production achieved in the state during the last 10 years. She assured the investors that the state government will provide better facilities than other states if they set up units there.
According to her, the state has a climate conducive for all crops. It had outdone other states in production of milk and food grains. This year, there has been bumper crop of orange in the state.
She pointed out that food processing units should be set up for crops such as orange, guava, and ber, which were abundant. Farmers will get maximum benefit if more units are set up. According to her, the state has moved to fourth position from seventh in the country in milk production. It can outdo Amul if investors take interest in production of milk and its products, she felt. She said that the entire state should be linked with food processing activities.
R N Kulkarni, chief general manager, NABARD, Bhopal, informed that Government of India was promoting food industry and making constant efforts to put it in good condition. The Central government has allocated Rs 5,225 crore for food business. He lauded road connectivity of the state and called for connecting farmers with the food industry.
Union deputy secretary food processing S K Verma said that food processing industry should initiate steps to strengthen Make in India. He informed that two out of four mega food parks in Madhya Pradesh had started functioning and work was underway in the remaining food parks.
At the outset, Mahdele released the book Bharat Main Food Processing Industry. Mementoes were presented to the guests on behalf of Indian Chamber of Commerce.
