Tamil Nadu will invest around ₹1,000 crore in food-processing projects in the next one year.
As part of this initiative, supply-chain management units will be set up in Erode, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Theni, Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram at an investment of ₹398 crore.
The project is funded by Nabard and the State government.
Speaking at the 12th edition of Food Pro 2017, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, O Panneerselvam, Deputy Chief Minister, said the State is a front runner in agriculture production.
Only 4.6 per cent of the produce is processed and 35 per cent of vegetables and fruits goes waste due to the lack of adequate cold-storage facilities.
Panneerselvam said the push to food-processing is the need of the hour, as it can ensure better return to farmers and create more jobs in rural areas. He said the State will put in place regulations to ensure quality and food safety to become a global food market. Keeping in line with this objective, a research and development centre and public-private partnership will be explored to bring in innovative products with longer shelf life, he added.