The State Government on Thursday announced a new Food Processing Policy-2013 setting a target to process 25 per cent of the food produced in the State by 2025 to match the national target.
Announcing the policy, MSME Minister Damodar Rout said the new policy would aim at value addition and waste reduction of the farm produces and increase the income of the farmers, maximise direct and indirect employment generation opportunities in the food processing sector.
Dr Rout said that presently only one per cent of the food produced in the State is being processed and the Governemnt has set a target to raise it to at least 10 per cent by 2017 and 25 per cent by 2025.
He said two mega food parks under Central sector at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore would be set up, one each at Rayagada and Huma.
The salient features of the food processing policy are establishment of seafood parks and identification of agri export zones and an Agriculture Education Research Institute and skilled development agencies with focus on plucking, grading and storing.
The Minister said that as per the new policy, industrial units in the mega food parks and seafood parks would be eligible for reimbursement of 100 per cent VAT paid for a period of 10 years limited to a 200-per cent fixed capital investment.