“In a meeting recently, the chief secretary has asked the officials to identify 20 locations for setting up mega food parks in the state. The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) and Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) have been told to undertake the techno-feasibility study for the food parks and submit the report in one month,” said Fakir Mohan Nayak, additional secretary of MSME department at a seminar on ‘Development of Food Processing Industries under Fishery and Animal Husbandry’, organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in association with the state government.
While Idco will prepare techno-feasible report for 15 mega food parks, OSIC will undertake the task for five parks.
More From This Section
Nayak said, the Odisha Food Processing Policy -2013 also encourages development of mega food parks in the state.
Recently, an inter-ministerial committee of the Centre has approved a proposal to set up sea food park at Khurda. This park, to be established at a cost of Rs 116.26 crore and implemented by Idco, will enhance the sea food processing capacity in the state by 60,000 tonnes per annum. It is proposed to accommodate 41 sea food processing units in this complex.
OSIC and Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited (OAIC) have also evinced interest to set up mega food parks in Jharsuguda and Koraput districts respectively.
“One more food park in Ganjam, proposed by Huma Coastal Mega Food Park, is also coming up,” Nayak added.
The food processing policy of the state provides a special capital investment subsidy up to Rs 15 crore along with other sops.
Industry body, ICC has given a six-point suggestion for development of the food processing sector in the state.
“The global processed food market is worth $100 billion, which is expected to double by 2020. Currently India’s share is only 1.6 per cent. Amongst developed economies, the state can target markets like the US, Singapore, Taiwan, and Korea that have the highest growth potential for processed food,” Madhuparna Bhowmick, joint director and head agri-business, ICC, said.
In food processing, exporters need to cater to the changing consumer tastes and preferences and should do detailed market study for international markets, to find out comparative advantages. Exporters also need to satisfy the stringent certification standards set by the national authorities, as well as those set by the importing foreign nations, ICC recommended among other suggestions.