The Mega Food Park is an inclusive concept whichis aimed at establishing direct linkages from the farm to processing and on tothe consumer markets, through a network of collection centres and PrimaryProcessing Centres, so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizingwastage, increasing farmers’ income and creating employment opportunitiesparticularly in rural sector. The Mega Food Park Scheme is based on “Cluster”approach and envisages a well-defined agree/ horticultural-processing zonecontaining state-of-the art processing facilities with support infrastructureand well-established supply chain.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GoIoperates the “Mega Food Park” scheme to strengthen the Value Added Processingfor Food Crops. The financial assistance under the scheme is provided in theform of grant-in-aid @ 50% of eligible project cost in general areas and @ 75%of eligible project cost in NE Region and difficult areas (Hilly States andITDP areas) subject to maximum of Rs. 50 crore per project.The scheme aims tofacilitate the establishment of a strong food processing industry backed by anefficient supply chain, which includes Collection Centres, Primary ProcessingCenters (PPC), Central Processing Center (CPC) and Cold Chain infrastructure.Theminimum land required for a Central Processing Centre in Mega Food Park is 50acre and implementation period is 30 months. The scheme is demand-driven andwould facilitate food processing units to meet environmental, safety and socialstandards.
Ministry received 72 proposals and after goingthrough a stringent and transparent process of scrutiny, 17 suitable proposalsfrom 11 States of the country have been selected and approved forimplementation.