File Pic
Nagpur: On September 10, 2016, one of the largest Food Parks is slated to come up at MIHAN area in Nagpur. The Patanjali Food and Herbal Park which is stated to be billions worth of rupees and spread across an area of 252 acres in MIHAN area will certainly benefit the unemployed youth from Nagpur city and Vidarbha as well. Sources claimed that during its operational phase, the park will provide direct employment to more than 7,000 unemployed youth of Vidarbha.
Mega Food Park: The Mega Food Park (MFP) has been envisaged to help in creation of enabling infrastructure for food processing and a comprehensive ‘farm-to-plate’ supply chain system. This will certainly work in a pro-active manner for the farmers of Vidarbha. Since Nagpur is reputed for its Oranges, Orange Juice, Orange Pulp, other goods from Orange Peel etc.
Marmalade which can be easily made in Nagpur, refers to a fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water. It can be produced from lemons, limes, sweet oranges, and other citrus fruits, or any combination of them. Nagpur’s products too will become reputed in national and international market.
Patanjali Food Park Project: According to Yoga Guru and Main Patanjali Food and Herbal Park Stakeholder Swami Ramdev, the primary objective of setting up the park is to provide a source of income and revenue generation for farmers by creating a demand for conventional and non-conventional produce. Initially, only a few food processing plants will be set up at the food park. Eventually, 32 processing units will be established.
An initiate of Ministry of Food Processing Industries
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has plans to set up a Food Park in every state of India. Under India’s 11th five-year plan (2007-2012), the MoFPI has envisaged 30 food parks, ten of which are planned to be constructed in the first phase. The plans are aimed to establish sound manufacturing and processing units, integrate supply chain management and bring down wastage of agricultural produce.
The one coming up in MIHAN is among the nine other Food Parks which are slated to be constructed in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) was formed with the aim of developing basic infrastructure for a collection of food processing industries in order that they are developed into an agro-based industrial hub. The SPV is the key implementing agency of the project and is responsible for executing it in an efficient manner. It is also responsible for procuring land and key infrastructure, obtaining approvals and clearances, and receiving and utilizing financial assistance. Funds for the project came through different sources such as the government and private and individual funding.
Patanjali Food and Herbal Park Construction
Immediately after the laying of Foundation Stone and performing the Yagya, the construction of the park in MIHAN is slated to start.
Patanjali park processing
Equipment installed at the facility includes a steam sterilization unit, crate washing, an integrated cold chain facility, packaging units, boilers, compressors and an automated washing and grading unit for multiple commodities. Quality control labs are also installed.
Food and herbal park products
The plant will produce Arogya Atta, Juices and other processed items such as cosmetics and will have separate units to produce juice, pulp, candies, herbal products and pickles. Around 150t of products are anticipated to be produced through 500t of raw materials.
By Samuel Gunasekharan
(With inputs from Google and Patanjali Web Site)
