State lends a helping hand to food processing units

JAIPUR: As a major step towards strengthening food processing units in rural areas and creating preservation and processing facilities at village level, the state government has issued guidelines for granting financial assistance.
State government will extend financial assistance for technology upgradation, expansion, modernization to establishment of new food processing units in Rajasthan.The main objectives of the scheme are increasing the level of processing, reducing wastage, value addition and enhancing the income of farmers. The total amount granted will be 25% of the cost of the facility with maximum amount reaching upto Rs 50 lakh.
The project is part of national mission on food processing which is to be implemented by 2017. "There are a number of schemes which cooperative societies, NGOs, government bodies and individuals can initiate. Our basic aim is to ensure that farmers prosper through the vibrant food processing sector and strong backend facilities for storage of their produce," said an official of the industry department.
Along with the modernization, government will also provide aid for setting up primary processing centres. This scheme is applicable to both horticulture and non-horticulture produce such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and grain & pulses.
Anybody with a minimum land of 1-2 acres will be encouraged to set up processing facilities at the farm level. Facilities include weighing, cleaning, sorting, sampling and cold and dry warehouses. Along with all this, mobile pre-cooling trucks and reefer trucks for transportation of perishable agriculture produce will be required.
Under the mission on food processing, government will also fund development of an integrated and complete cold chain from gate to the consumer or from the production site to the market.