Chandigarh, Jul 9 (IANS): Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday said Punjab had received an investment of Rs 1,200 crore in the food processing sector, which would result in employment opportunities to 45,000 persons besides benefiting 1.30 lakh farmers.

In a statement here, she said it was strange that despite the initiating of various projects in the food processing sector, from mega food parks to cold chains to testing laboratories, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and it's representative in Parliament was unaware of the same and had expressed complete ignorance in this regard.

Badal said while her ministry had given sanction to mega food parks at Ladhowal and Kapurthala which were near completion, it had operationalised an international food park at Fazilka.

The Union Minister said these and other initiatives had resulted in attracting private investment of Rs 800 crore through 41 projects, including 19 cold chains, seven food testing laboratories, three clusters, four food processing units and four backward-forward linkage projects.

"The ministry has given a grant of Rs 400 crore for these projects," she added.