The Hindu Business Line : Facility to help in better capacity utilisation

WITH the inauguration of the project to establish a cereals, pulses and staples (CPS) processing and milling industry cluster by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Mr E.V.K.S. Elangovan, here, Madurai can become the first processing hub in the country.

According to the President of the Tamilnadu Foodgrains Marketing Yard Ltd (TFMYL), Mr S. Rethinavelu, this project is one of the 26 projects cleared under the Central Government's Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS) at the all-India level and among the five projects for Tamil Nadu.

The total cost of the project is Rs 39.96 crore and 75 per cent of the cost, i.e. Rs 29.97 crore, is given as a one-time grant-in-aid under the scheme.

The aim of this facility is to reduce the production cost, minimise storage losses, raise the quality of the products with modern packaging methods and increase the competitiveness at the global market through a common brand name, enabling both the farmers and the traders earn higher returns for their produces.

About 800 units, both big and small, currently functioning around Madurai, would benefit from this.

Though the production capacity of these units is estimated at 15 lakh tonnes, only 40 to 60 per cent of the capacity is utilised due to lack of proper facilities.

The export from this region is estimated at Rs 100 crore.

The emergence of the new facility would help in raising the capacity utilisation to around 95 per cent and the exports to Rs 650 crore. While around 6,000 persons would get direct employment, 34,000 more would get employed indirectly, Mr Rethinavelu said.

The facilities at the cluster would include storage depots, packaging centre, modern testing laboratory, pre-processing, auction, display, gradingcentres, and other facilities such asroads, lighting, drainage etc. of international standards, Mr Rethinavelu said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Heavy rains forecast in Kerala

Farm exports: Not yielding full potential

Tea industry — Need for greater synergy between corporate and small producers

China swings aluminium market

Glut forces drop in steel prices

Mango times

Rubber prices continue to remain stagnant

Coonoor tea prices continue to fall

Foundation stone laid for cereals, pulses milling cluster in Madurai

Facility to help in better capacity utilisation

Heritage Foods Q4 net slips to Rs 3.25 cr

GEAC move to amend rules for approving Bt cotton — Rift between Monsanto sub-licencees, others widens

Vegoil imports continuing despite losses, lower domestic prices

Karnataka industry plans raw cashewnuts imports

Call to strengthen farm marketing strategy