Vizianagaram, Aug 6 (KNN) The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has given a green signal for the establishment of a food park in Alamandha in Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh.

As per reports, the food park that is worth Rs 28.74 crore was approved last year under the Agro Processing Cluster scheme with an initial grant of Rs 5.9 crore.

Minister of State Prahlad Singh Patel said that the projects that have been approved under the APC scheme would take 24 months in most areas and 30 months in the North Eastern and Himalayan states (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir & Uttarakhand).

The central government has implemented a number of policy measures and reforms to assist the food processing sector, including the inclusion of food and agro-based processing and cold chain units as an agricultural activity under the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms in April 2015.

“A Special Food Processing Fund of Rs 2,000 crore was set up with NABARD to provide affordable credit for investments in setting up Mega Food Parks as well as processing units in the MFPs,” he said.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has moved its approval process from product-by-product to ingredient and additive-based.  (KNN Bureau)