Food processing sector is an important industry in India in terms of output and employment. India’s food processing sector covers fruit and vegetables, spices, meat and poultry, milk and milk products, alcoholic beverages, fisheries, plantation, grain processing and other products. India ranks fifth in terms of production, consumption and exports of food and related products. (Source: www.ibef.org).
A well-developed food processing sector helps to reduce wastage and improves value addition of food and agro products, promotes crop diversification, ensures better return to farmers, promotes employment, and increases export earnings. (Source: Annual Report 2016-17, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India).
State-wise Distribution of Registered Factories in Food Processing Sector
As per the latest Annual Survey of Industries 2013-14, the total number of factories in the registered food processing sector in the country was 37,445. Highest number of registered factories is located in Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for about 15.33 per cent of the total registered factories in food processing sector industries followed by Tamil Nadu (13.90 per cent), Telangana (10.28 per cent), Maharashtra (8.12 perc ent) and Punjab (7.44 per cent). Kerala has 1,460 units and occupies 3.9 per cent of the total number of factories in Food Processing Sector in India. (Source: Annual Report 2016-17, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India).
KINFRA Food Processing Park, Kakkancherry, Malappuram
The KINFRA Food Processing Park at Kakkancherry, Malappuram district, set up in an area of 23.5 acres has 28 working units. In 2016-17, the park has invested 8,570.4 lakh and created 815 jobs.
KINFRA Small Industries Park, Mazhuvannur, Ernakulam
The park, set up in an area of 67 acres of land under the Integrated Infrastructure Development Scheme of the Centre, promotes small industrial as well as food processing units. The park offers infrastructure facilities such as water, power and developed land. It has a cold storage which has a capacity of 50 tonnes, and can be expanded to 250 tonnes.
KINFRA Mega Food Park, Palakkad
KINFRA Mega Food Park, Palakkad is being implemented in accordance with the Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) of Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI), Government of India. The project involves the setting up of a Centralized Processing Center (CPC) in an area of about 79.42 acres at Elapully and Pudussery villages near Walayar in Palakkad and four Primary Processing Centers (PPCs) in Ernakulum, Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad. Details of KINFRA food processing units in parks are given in Appendix 3.1.30.
Implementation of Food safety system through NCHC
National Centre for HACCP Certification (NCHC) associated with K-BIP is in the process of auditing, certification and recertification of various food processing and allied units in Kerala and outside the State. To provide awareness on Food Safety to the MSMEs in the Food Processing and Allied Sectors of the State, National Centre for HACCP Certification (NCHC) in association with Kerala Commissionerate of Food Safety organised an ‘Awareness Workshop on Food Safety’ in Kochi on April 29, 2016.