An agro-industrial corridor will come up in the Cauvery
delta districts — Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and
Tiruchy — at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore and work for it will begin in a month.
“It is going to be a revolutionary activity in the delta
districts which have not been industrialised so far. Food industry is the apt
one to be set up in these districts. The project will run for the next four
years and promote food industry in the delta,†said Dr K Alagusundaram, MD and
chief executive officer, TNApex. He was participating in a panel discussion on
the topic “Agro and food processing industry: Unveiling fresh opportunities†as
part of the Global Investors Meet.
The agro-industrial corridor project was announced last
year. Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam said a sum of Rs 1,000 crore would
be allocated for this. Three major food parks are coming up in the state under
Sipcot industrial estates in Theni, Manapparai and Tindivanam. 100 acres have
been allotted for food parks, in these industrial estates.
“Any individual who wishes to start a food industry in
Tamil Nadu will get 35 per cent credit-linked subsidy up to a maximum of Rs 10
lakh. “For example, if the project cost is Rs 1 crore, the government will
offer Rs 10 lakh to support the venture. Now, we have created so many
industries across the state. We are trying to cluster the industries created
and support them on branding and marketing.
The government wants to promote producers in these 4,000
food industries. Producers have to do some primary processing on their side and
bring it to the market or bring it to the secondary processor. We are going to
take 12 major crops of Tamil Nadu and create clusters for them.. Tamil Nadu is
in a very stable economic situation, stable political situation and with a
tropical weather condition and fertile soil and enjoys a lot of government
schemes and support. “It is growing but it is not an inclusive growth.
Technology and large-scale investments promote corporates. But the government
also has to see inclusive growth.