Mumbai, Apr 16 (KNN)  Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB)  is planning to set up a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Ahmednagar, through public-private partnership at a cost of Rs 70 crore.

“Local farmers often complain of wastage of their vegetables and fruits due to lack of processing and cold storage facilities. This will help farmers not only to sell their products at reasonable rates but also protect their products against rotting,” said MSAMB in their official web site. 

Supporting facilities like warehouse, pre-cooling and cold storage are being established on the site by other government agencies for private players. 

The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has also echoed the need for such a project. The lack of processing and storage of fruits and vegetables according to the ministry has resulted in huge wastages estimated at about 35 per cent of which is approximately Rs 33,000 crore for perishables and Rs 15,000 crore for non-perishables annually.

The proposed plant will come up on 12.35 acres of land to be made available by MSAMB.
 
In the meantime, it has invited bids from reputed players in agribusiness or infrastructure development to develop the fruit and vegetable processing plant.
 
The potential for the processing industry is huge as the Indian food market is poised to touch USD 310 billion by 2015 and USD 344 billion in 2025 according to a study by Mckinsey and Company.  (KNN)