Punjab moots food processing university

Chandigarh: Punjab government today said it has mooted a proposal to set up a Food Processing University on the lines of National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM).

The proposal, which has been mooted as a draft plan, envisages making the new university as a fulcrum for research and development of the food processing industry in Punjab. The proposed University would also meet the demand of investors as far as finding the required talent for the industry and training the same as per the demands of industry, an official spokesman said here. The spokesman said Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had decided to earmark a special budget of Rs 500 crore for this purpose. The Spokesman said following the new industrial policy there was renewed interest amongst the agro processing industry to set up their plants in the state. He said Cargill India was establishing a Feed Plant at Bathinda at a cost of Rs 100 crore, which would cater to cattle feed needs of the dairy industry in Punjab and other neighbouring states. Another Food Processing giant ITC has also initiated the work to create Food Processing Plant near Kapurthala. Official said the work on Mega Food Park to be set up at Fazilka under assistance from Union Food Processing Ministry would be initiated in October at a cost of Rs 130 crore. He said the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation was finalizing the formalities to establish multi product mega food park at Ladowal, Ludhiana. Top players from food processing sector have also evinced their interest for setting up of Maize based mega food park on Hoshiarpur Road at Phagwara, he said.