The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Sanction for 61 proposals in food processing sector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Sanction for 61 proposals in food processing sector

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Industries Department is taking several initiatives in the food-processing sector, with a view to improving the fortunes of the sector. The Agency for Development of Food Processing Industries in Kerala (ADFIK) has established linkages with major institutions associated with the sector in this regard.

The associated institutions include Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, and Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore. ADFIK has also empanelled consultants in the sector.

More than 20 consultants with experience in various sectors of the food processing industry and 12 organisations have been empanelled by the ADFIK.

KINFRA is the State nodal agency to the Ministry of Food Processing Industries of the Union Government. The ADFIK undertakes activities on behalf of KINFRA for all the functions related to the food-processing sector, according to KINFRA officials.

The Union Ministry has sanctioned, or released, financial assistance to 61 proposals amounting to Rs. 2,383.3 lakhs for the food processing sector in the State, including the food parks.

As many as 32 proposals for assistance of Rs. 799.13 lakhs have been recommended to the Ministry in 2004-05. Sixteen proposals estimated at Rs. 417.57 lakhs have been sanctioned by the Ministry.

The design and layout of the laboratory at KINFRA parks at Kakkancherry and Mazhuvanoor have been completed with the help of the consultant, Central Food Technology Research Institute, Mysore (CFTRI). The services of CFTRI has also been utilised during 2004-05 for selection of an agency to run the laboratories. Five firms have expressed their willingness to participate.

The selection of the agency is expected to be completed by January 2006 and operation of the laboratory is expected to begin immediately thereafter.

Laboratory

The ADFIK has taken the initiative for setting up a Regional Quality Control Laboratory, an apex laboratory which undertakes complicated and specialised analysis and also acts as a reference laboratory in Kochi to cater to the needs of the four southern States.

A project report is being prepared with the help of the Food Research and Analysis Centre (FRAC), a body sponsored by FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and CIFTI (Confederation of Indian Food Trade & Industry, the Food Processing wing of FICCI). The estimated investment of the project is Rs. 25 crores.

The equipment needed for the incubation centre has been finalised. Tenders were invited for them. The equipment is expected to be installed in March 2006. Kitchen Outsource India Private Ltd. is the agency selected to run the incubation centre. The incubation facility is expected to be operational by April.

The cold storage at KINFRA Small Industries Park, Wayanad, has been completed.

The cold storage at KINFRA Small Industries Park, Mazhuvanoor, has reached final stages of completion.

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