Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SB)

Udupi, Jun 19: State government in its budget has approved six more food parks apart from four food parks that are at various stages of completion in different places in the state, said state food processing and technology department chief secretary R Suresh. The move is part of the government’s commitment to set up a food processing unit in every district.

Speaking after reviewing the progress of various departments in the district on his visit to Udupi on Thursday June 18, Suresh informed that among four food processing units under construction, the park at Malur is in final stages of completion and will be inaugurated soon. The park at Malur would process vegetables, fruits and pulses such as potatoes, mangoes and tour dal, he said.

Stating that the construction work of food park at Hiriyoor is complete, he said that the works at other two parks in Bagalkot and Jevargi is still on. This year’s budget has approved setting up of food parks at six more places that includes Davangere, Belgaum, Shimoga and Byadagi and funds have been released for the same, he said.

Suresh said that only 10 per cent of the food products in the state are being processed at present. Only if there is a value addition to food grains they can be imported to other states, he said and called on the farmers to evince interest in setting up food processing unit in every district.