NALBARI, May 28 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today jointly inaugurated the North East Mega Food Park set up at Nathkuchi, Tihu in Nalbari district.
Addressing the meeting held on the occasion, Chief Minister Gogoi said that as processed food has high demands in the State in particular and in the entire country in general, the new food processing park would prevent wastage of agricultural products. He said the Central government must provide incentives to attract investors to the State.
Badal highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi�s emphasis on the food processing sector in the country in the mode followed by Thailand and Malaysia. She added that the Central government had provided Rs 50 crore for the North East Mega Food Park.
The park will develop the linkage of farmers to explore the market. Badal said that for collection of raw materials for the mega food park, some collection centres would be set up in five districts � Sivasagar, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Darrang and Kokrajhar. She further said that three cold storages would also be set up in Nagaon, Kajalgaon and Chaygaon.
Badal further added that the Union government has decided to set up a rural production centre in each state of the North-east.
Addressing the inaugural function, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijuju said the new mega food park would bring about considerable changes in the entire region. He further said the products of the park could be exported to neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh.
The meeting was attended among others by SC Sahegal, Chairman cum Managing Director of the mega food park, Haren Das, Chairman of AIDC, Naba Sarania, MP, Maneswar Brahma and Dr OK Prakash.
It may be mentioned here that the North East Mega Food Park was set up at a cost of Rs 250 crore and an annual turnover of Rs 400 to Rs 500 crore is expected from it.