The ministry of food processing industries is planning to set up 350 new food processing units in the next 100 days. These processing units will include fruit and vegetable, meat, dairy, fish, grain and consumer food industry. It also intends to create 1 crore jobs by 2015 at a total investment of Rs 1 lakh crore.
?We will extend financial help of up to 25% or a maximum of Rs 50 lakh in setting up each of these units,? minister for food processing industries Subodh Kant Sahai said on wednesday while releasing his ministry’s 100-day action plan.
Sahai said, ?after the green revolution, we are now ushering in the evergreen revolution in the country, p rocessing is an evergreen activity. It is important for the agricultural sector as well?.
Sahai said his ministry will seek concessions from the government like tax holiday for all food processing units, lowering of customs, excise and value added tax (VAT) on food products, raw materials, machinery and packaging used by the industry.
?We are asking for a VAT of zero to 4% instead of the current 20%. At 20%, VAT is a crime against farmers,? he pointed out.
The ministry intends to commission a study to ascertain the requirements of the industry for trained manpower at various levels. It will also prepare a blueprint for training 10 lakh skilled workers and 5 lakh women entrepreneurs in the next five years.
The ministry will also inaugurate the first phase of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) within the next 100 days.