New Delhi, Aug 23: The government on Saturday cleared the implementation of a Rs 250-crore scheme for infrastructure development for food processing industry during the 10th Plan period.

Officials said that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the scheme, the main components of which are the setting up of food parks and packaging centres, taking up of modernisation of abattoirs, setting up of integrated cold chain and value-added centres and provision of irradiation facilities.


Officials said that the food processing industry was of enormous importance for India's development. The growth of this industry will bring immense benefit to the economy, raising agricultural yield and productivity, creating employment and raising the standards of living of a large number of people.
Under the scheme, the pattern of assistance for the various components will be as follows: for food park, 25 per of the project cost in "general areas" and 33.33 per cent in "difficult areas) up to Rs 4 crore for creation of common facilities; for packaging centre, 25 of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in "general areas" and 33.33 per cent in "difficult areas" subject to a maximum of Rs 2 crore; for modernisation of existing abattoirs, 25 per cent of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in "general areas" and 33.33 per cent in "difficult areas" subject to a maximum of Rs 4 crore; for cold storage, 25 per cent of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 33.33 per cent in difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs 5 crore; and for irradiation facilities, 25 per cent of the cost of plant and machinery and technical civil work in general areas and 33.33 per cent in difficult areas subject to a maximum of Rs 5 crore. Bureau Report