Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 06:
Plentiful growth of seasonal fruits and vegetables only to rot in huge quantities due to absence of a functioning cold storage plant would be a thing of the past in case target set for completing the food park at Nilakuthi village in Greater Imphal area could be achieved.
The food park currently under construction with funding from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is set for completion in March next year, according to Deputy General Manager (Manipur) Sonamani Yambem.
Interacting with newspersons on the sideline of an inspection programme in Bishnupur district today, Sonamani said about 33 percent of the construction works had been completed and expressed confidence of meeting the March 2007 deadline.
Highlighting that around 500 people may directly benefit through employment once the Park, conceived under NABARD's Rural Development and Infrastructure Fund scheme takes its final shape, the DGM listed establishment of cold storage and a packaging unit as the main feature of the park.
On completion, many a food processing units can store their products on minimal rental charge thereby facilitating sale of products throughout the year, he said while informing that the State Government and Central food processing authorities are also extending contributory share in the food park construction.
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Earlier in the day, Sonamani and other officials accompanied by a media team inspected three fishing jetties in the periphery of the Loktak Lake at Ningthoukhong and Ething areas besides surveying construction work of a market shed in the district.
The jetties and market shed are being constructed under the funding of NABARD.
Regarding other NABARD endeavours in the State, he said nearly 12,000 self help groups in the State are being promoted through awareness campaigns and related activities in addition to financial assistance on 24 different sectors to spur economic development of Manipur.