Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen laid foundation stone for Primary Processing Center (PPC), Noney District under Manipur Mega Food Park at Gaidimjang Village, Khoupum in the presence of Chairman, Hill Area Committee and local MLA Dinganglung (Dipu) Gangmei on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, minister Nemcha informed that once these PPC are completed and functional, there will be a major boost to the food processing sector, thereby adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with particular focus on perishables.
Facilities for primary processing and storage are created near the farm in the form of Primary Processing Centers (PPCs), she mentioned. She urged the locals to utilise the upcoming infrastructures in the best way and further contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.
The Food Processing Industries Ministry is implementing the Mega Food Park Scheme in the country to create modern infrastructure facilities for food processing along the value chain from farm to market with strong forward and backward linkages through a cluster-based approach, she said.
The project aims to facilitate the establishment of a strong food processing industry backed by an efficient supply chain, which includes Primary Processing Centers (PPCs), Central Processing Center (CPC) and Cold Chain infrastructure, she added.
She said that Central Processing Centers (CPC) will include common facilities like Testing Laboratory, Cleaning, Grading, Sorting and Packing Facilities, Dry Warehouses, specialized storage facilities including Controlled Atmosphere Chambers, Pressure Ventilators, variable Humidity Stores, pre-cooling Chambers, Ripening Chambers, Cold Chain Infrastructure including Reefer Vans, Packaging Unit, Irradiation Facilities, Steam Sterilization Units, Steam Generating Units, Food Incubation cum Development Centers etc.
The Primary Processing Centers will include facilities such as dry warehouses, specialized cold stores including pre-cooling chambers. It is expected that there will be a creation of direct/indirect employment of about 2,000-3,000 persons. The Mega food park, one becoming fully operational, will also benefit about 25,000 farmers in the State, she added.
Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited (MFICL) is the implementing agency for the said PPC. It may be noted that there is an ongoing development of Central Processing Center at Yaithibi, Thoubal district and 8 PPC in Ukhrul, Chandel, Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Bishnupur, Imphal East, Jiribam and Noney districts.
Commissioner, Commerce and Industry, Pradeep Kumar Jha, additional secretary, TCI, Luckyson Kashung, MD, MFICL, Joel Haokip, officers and officials of the department concerned accompanied the minister during the visit. (DIPR)
