Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras inaugurates the first food processing office of Bihar in Patna

The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras, today inaugurated 'Capacity Enhancement Center' for promotion of food processing in Bihar and North-Eastern states by the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Sonepat (Haryana). Simultaneously, he launched Makhana King – Makhana-based One District One Product (ODOP) brand with a simple and spicy taste. These initiatives are part of the Pradhan Mantri Micro Food Upgradation Scheme (PMFME). On this occasion, he announced that a university for food processing, a big office of 'Capacity Enhancement Center' at Hajipur, and a food processing factory would be opened in North Bihar.

On this occasion, the Union Food Processing Minister said, “I will fulfill the responsibility given to me by Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking special interest to develop the food processing industry in Bihar.” He said that food processing has its importance throughout the country. “The Department of Agriculture takes initiatives to produce food grains and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to save it from wastage. Mega Food Parks are working across the country for the farmers to get a fair price for the agricultural produce and solve the unemployment problem, and soon there are plans to set up Mini Food Parks. There is large-scale production of many food items, including Makhana, Litchi, Banana, Maize in North Bihar. Still, people have very little knowledge about the food processing industry. That is why we plan to open a university in North Bihar.”

The Union Food Processing Minister said that he would request the Chief Minister of Bihar to give land. He further added, “We have a plan to increase farmers' income and employment opportunities by processing food products, and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been very interested in this direction. Training will be given in 'Capacity Enhancement Center,' and which will also expand in the future. The land is available in Hajipur and soon, we will take the initiative to open an office there. Along with this, survey will be conducted in all the districts of Bihar and food processing industries will be set up as per the requirement. A big factory would be opened in consultation with the Bihar government, where there would be food processing business and employment opportunities.”

Minhaj Alam, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries and Dr. C Basudevappa, Vice-Chancellor, NIFTEM, Kundli, were present on occasion.