Products of Connect Handmade Naga, an initiative of LifeConnect Nagaland. (Morung File Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 18
Basing on the availability and potential of resources, certain food processing sectors and infrastructural facilities have been identified as per Nagaland Food Processing Industries Policy (NFPIP). These food processing sectors includes; pulse, cereal and millet based processing and value addition, Parboiled rice processing, spice processing, fruit and vegetable processing-beverage, dehydrated products, canning, pickle, sauce, jam, preserves, confectionery, pulp, concentrates and other derivatives.
Value addition and processing of wild fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs & spices, Milk & dairy processing, Honey processing, Mushroom processing, Fish processing, Meat processing, Processing & value addition of sugarcane, coffee, tea and herbs, processing & value addition of tuber crops, creation of infrastructural facilities for cold chain, primary processing centers, collection centers and integrated pack house, modern abattoir and modernization of meat shops, Reefer vehicles and refrigerated logistic systems, Food testing labs, Incubation centers and training centers, Common processing centers. “The above mentioned list is tentative and not exhaustive,” the policy stated.
The provision of adequate infrastructure is a pre-requisite for industrial growth and development, the Policy stated.
“The State Government will therefore endeavour to provide necessary support to facilitate the growth of food processing industries in the form of establishing common processing centres and development of industrial estates/food parks at identified locations across the state,” the Policy stated.
Budgetary provision
The Policy envisages financial support for various interventions for which a budget of Rs 3.50 Crore (Rupees Three Crore Fifty Lakh Only) for 5 years is anticipate.
The Policy stated that in order to attract prospective entrepreneurs and investment opportunity, the following interventions, incentives and support shall initially be undertaken and implemented for the growth of food processing sector in the State.
Subsequently, it shall further strive towards bringing in more essential interventions and incentives basing on the need and requirement of the state.
The Policy stated that food processing is still at its infancy stage in the state of Nagaland due to many reasons.
Some of the major factors inhibiting the growth of food processing sector are – being unorganised, inadequate & inefficient infrastructure along the supply chain, weak entrepreneurial skills, lack of basic facilities and poor market linkages.
In order to provide support for development and establishment of necessary food processing infrastructures in the State, following incentives will be provided accordingly:
a) Financial assistance in the form of subsidy/grants shall be provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) – Prime Minister Formalization of Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme or any other relevant State/Central Schemes for setting-up/up-gradation of new/existing food processing units. The amount of subsidy shall be as per the norms of the CSS scheme.
b) In addition, beneficiaries in Rural areas, who have availed assistance under the CSSPM FME Scheme or any other relevant State/Central Schemes, shall be eligible for a subsidy of 5% of the total eligible project cost for expenditures incurred on plant & machinery and technical civil works for setting up/up-gradation of new/existing food processing units, subjected to a maximum ceiling of Rs. 50,000/-.
c) Special subsidy for women entrepreneurs who have availed assistance under the CSSPM FME Scheme or any other relevant State/Central Schemes, amounting to 10% of the total eligible project cost for expenditures incurred on plant & machinery and technical civil works will be provided for establishment/setting up of new food processing units and up-gradation/expansion of existing food processing units, subjected to a maximum ceiling of Rs 1.00 Lakh.
d) Subsidy amounting to 10% of the total eligible project cost for expenditures incurred on plant & machinery and technical civil works will be provided for setting up Primary Processing Centres (PPCs) and Collection Centres (CCs), to a maximum ceiling of Rs 5.00 Lakh.
e) Subsidy amounting to 10% of the total eligible project cost for expenditures incurred on plant & machinery and technical civil works will be provided for setting up of cold storage, preservation and value addition infrastructures for agriculture/horticulture/dairy/meat products, subjected to a maximum ceiling of Rs 25.00 Lakh.
f) In order to provide hygienic meat to the consumer, subsidy amounting to 5% of the total eligible project cost for expenditures incurred on machinery & equipments and technical civil works integral to the project will be provided for setting up of modernized meat shop, subjected to a maximum ceiling of Rs 50,000/-.
g) Subsidy amounting to 5% of the total eligible project cost for expenditures incurred on plant & machinery and technical civil works will be provided for setting up integrated pack house at farm gate level, subjected to a maximum ceiling of Rs 5.00 Lakh.
h) Subsidy amounting to 10% of the cost of standalone new reefer vehicle(s)/mobile pre-cooling van(s) up to a maximum of Rs 5.00 Lakh will be provided for purchase of new reefer vehicle(s)/mobile pre-cooling van(s) for the purpose of carriage and transportation of perishable agriculture and horticulture items.
Meanwhile, this Policy under the Department of Industries & Commerce, Government of Nagaland, was tabled by Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio at the recently concluded 6th session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
