Focus of NDA government on development of north east: Harsimrat

Chandigarh, February 18, 2016: Union Minister Food Processing Industries Mrs.Harsimrat Kaur Badal today stated that NDA Government is committed to the development of North East and focus of Prime Minister is to ensure linking farmers with modern technology driven agricultural practices.
She disclosed this on the occasion of inauguration of the Vibrant North-East 2016 Summit and Exhibition in Guwahati. Mrs.Badal said that the North Eastern Region holds lot of potential for food processing as the weather and adequate availability of water are conducive for growing large variety of fruits and vegetables.
Union minister informed that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries is pursuing development of North East through its schemes of Mega Food Park, Cold Chain, Abattoir and development of Food Testing Laboratories. As a step in this direction, 3 Mega Food Parks have been sanctioned for this region, one each in Assam (which has been made operational), Mizoram and in Tripura.
She also divulged that 5 Cold Chain projects have also been sanctioned by the Ministry in Assam, Manipur, and Mizoram which have a capacity of 11500 MT of cold storage, 0.75 MT /per Hr of IQF capacity. 68 Reefer Trucks, 8 Abattoirs projects have also been sanctioned in North East states of Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim which are aimed at establishing modern Abattoirs and ensuring hygienic and scientific meat processing. She also informed that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has sanctioned 6 Food Testing Labs in the States of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura for creating infrastructure for food safety and quality testing.
Union Food Processing Industries Minister Smt. Badal informed that the Ministry has taken up the issue of allowing 100% FDI in Multi Brand Retail for such food which is produced by the Indian farmers and food products that are manufactured in India.
Mrs. Badal urged the entrepreneurs to come forward to set up food processing industries in the North Eastern and make use of financial assistance provided by the Government which will usher in a new era of higher income to farmers, employment generation to the youth of this region.