Western Agri Food Park (P) Ltd under Govt. Of India's Mega Food Scheme to be launched at Shirwal

The first mega food park in Western India under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (Govt. of India) Mega Food Park scheme in the 11th 5 year plan was launched at Shirwal in Satara District about 55 kms from Pune.

Speaking to reporters the Chairman of the Food Park , Mr. Pradeep Chordia said that the “ Western Agri Food Park is modeled on the lines of creation of a three-tier structure for value adding infrastructure in Food Producing Clusters in the country. It will also cover activities related to Backward Integration (like Collection Centers, Primary Processing Centre), processing and market of agriculture produce”.

The Western Agri Food Park was inaugurated on Saturday February 28 at the hands of Union Minister of State Food processing industries, Govt. of India Mr. Subodhkant Sahai ,along with Union Minister for Agriculture and Food and Civil Supplies Mr. Sharad Pawar presided on the occasion

Speaking on the occassion Mr. Pradeep Chordiasaid that Indian agricultural sector needs moderninfrastructure and value addition. The Mega Food Park Scheme will be the boost for small and medium food processors in this direction.

He informed, Western Agri Food Park (P) Ltd. at Shirwal 55km south of Pune will be built on on 75 acres of land. The Investments will be Rs. 120 crore for the common facilities and will Leverage Investment of about Rs. 500 crores in processing units.

Central Government will contribute Rs. 50 crore towards common facilities in the Mega Food Park. Park will also be setting up collection centers in Pune and Satara district and will have mobile collection centres for other locations , he added.

Mr. Pradeep Chordia further added that apart from Chordia Food Products, Western Agri food Park will have Pravin Masalewale, Akruti City Ltd, Ashoka Builders Nasik Pvt Ltd., Poona Dal and Besan Mills as other promoters. Farmers and SME will also be the stake holders in the company, he added. Apart from benefiting farmers of Pune, Satara, Sangli , Kolhapur and other centres in Western India the Western Agri Food Park (P) Ltd is also expected to generate Direct & Indirect Employment for around 15000 persons .

Western Agri Food Park (P) Ltd at Shirwal will have Common Processing Facilities for seasonal fruits & Vegetables, Washing, Sorting & Grading facility, Storage Facility , Quality control lab, Pre-cooling units, Packaging Facility, and Basic Infrastructure Facilities like Water Treatment Plant, ETP, Electric sub- station, Conference hall, Guest house etc.

A special Knowledge Centre of the Western Agri Food Park (P) Ltd will be situated at Shindewadi on the outskirt of Pune on Banglore-Pune Highway. It consist of a Business Centre, Incubation Centre and a R & D Centre.

The incubation center will be the innovative concept of western Agri Food Park in which young progressive farmers, women entrepreneurs, Self help groups etc can participate to become food processors, Mr.Vishal Chordia added.

Mr. Chordia said that as promoters they had already launched the Chordia Food Park which is one of the successful Food Park in India. And the experience of operating the existing Food Park will surely help in successfully managing the mega Food Park

Speaking on the Objectives of Mega Food Park scheme, he informed that it would help to catalyze the food processing sector in the country increasing the processing level by at least 8-10%. The Food Park would ensure value addition, Minimize post harvest losses along the supply chain and establish a robust & sustainable raw material supply chain for each cluster.

Most importantly, it will help in reduction in wastages along the supply in the catchment area, providing additional income to farmers in the area and assisting the farmers to shift towards remunerative market driven farming. Strengthening and optimizing the alignment of supply chain from “farm to plate” will be possible, he added.

The Food Park will have Enhanced focus on safety and quality along the food supply chain, Facilitating the availability of safe, value for money quality food products to consumers and also Enhancing the competitiveness of processed and value added food products from India in International Markets.