The Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee (IMAC) of the Central government has yesterday approved the setting up of a mega food park project in Meghalaya worth Rs. 65.29 crore.
The IMAC approved seven proposals with a total project cost of Rs. 234.68 crores including grants-in-aid of Rs. 60.87 crores for the states of Meghalaya, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
These projects will leverage private investment of Rs. 173.81 Crores and are expected to generate employment for 7750 persons.
Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Narendra Singh Tomar, chaired the IMAC meeting through video-conference to consider the proposals received under the Scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Cluster (APC) of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). The promoters of projects also participated through video-conference.
The scheme for Creation of Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Cluster (APC) was approved on May 3, 2017 under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana to incentivise the setting up of agro processing clusters in the country.
This scheme aims at development of modern infrastructure to encourage entrepreneurs to set up food processing units based on cluster approach.
These clusters will help in reducing the wastage of the surplus produce and add value to the horticultural and agricultural produce which will result in increase of income of the farmers and create employment at the local level.
