The Government of India has recently launched the first Mega Food Park (MFP) in Mizoram, through the much-talked about ‘Mega Food Park Scheme’. This initiative is aimed at benefiting not only the locals but also those residing in surrounding regions.
Introducing Zoram Mega Food Park
Zoram Mega Food Park (MFP), located in Khamrang village in Kolasib District of Mizoram, is spread across 55 acres of land. Construction of this MFP involved a total expenditure of Rs. 75.20 crores. It is believed that this initiative will be advantageous to the people of Mizoram as well as residents of nearby districts in Assam, which already houses a MFP in its Nalbari district – North East Mega Food Park.
Zoram MFP aims to leverage the North-East Region’s potential to become a global destination for organic products, given its rich agricultural and horticultural resources. Evidence of this potential is visible in Sikkim, which has been declared as an organic state.
Understanding the Mega Food Park Scheme
The Mega Food Park Scheme was launched in 2008-09 under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The primary goal of this scheme is to establish a mechanism to connect agricultural production with the market by facilitating collaboration between farmers, processors, and retailers.
This system anticipates maximizing value addition, minimizing waste, elevating farmers’ income and generating employment opportunities, especially in the rural sector. The scheme takes the “cluster” approach, focusing on setting up modern food processing units with state-of-the-art support infrastructure in a clearly defined agri/horticultural zone.
Specifically, a Mega Food Park typically comprises supply chain infrastructure including collection centres, primary processing centres, central processing centres, and cold chain infrastructure. Additionally, it provides around 25-30 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up food processing units.
Financial Assistance and Current Status
For every Mega Food Park project, the central government extends financial assistance of up to Rs. 50 Crore. These projects are carried out by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which is a corporate entity registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
As of now, 18 MFP Projects are being implemented across various states. Along with this, 19 Mega Food Parks have already been made functional. This mission aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar’ vision of the Government of India.
