Andhra gets proposals worth Rs 3,500 crore to set up food parks

As many as 65 proposals to set up mega food parks, worth Rs 3,500 crore, has been received by Andhra Pradesh government, a senior official said on Monday.

"The government has received 65 proposals to set up mega food parks in the State with a total investment of Rs 3,500 crore," said Y N Prasad, Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Food Processing Society (APFPS).

Talking to reporters here, he said the window for submitting proposals to set up food parks in the State is available till the end of April. Under the new food processing policy, Prasad said the government envisages to set up one such mega park (with at least 20 units) in each district.

He said after going scrutinising the qualifications and capacities of the applicants, the government would finalise entrepreneurs to set up these facilities.

The State would also provide Rs 50 crore for each park as financial grant, the officer said. "The Government is actively promoting the food processing industry to transform agriculture into a profitable profession." Transport of agricultural produce, building warehouses and refrigerated godowns and marketing are important aspects to make agriculture a profitable profession, he said.

The TDP-led administration is very keen to promote 'Farmer Producer Councils'. Each of these Councils would have 10 lakh farmers and deal with issues like marketing, storage and processing of agriculture products, the officer said. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate these Councils soon, Prasad added.