Buggapadu Mega Food Park ready for launch: minister Tummala

The foundation stone for the Food Park’s construction was laid at Buggapadu Sathupalli mandal in the district during the BRS regime in 2016 with an estimated cost of Rs 70 crore.

Khammam: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao directed officials to make arrangements for the launch of Buggapadu Mega Food Park in the district in February.

The Food Park was set up with an aim of bringing farmers, processors and retailers together to provide a mechanism to take processed produce to market. The foundation stone for the park’s construction was laid at Buggapadu of Sathupalli mandal during the BRS regime in 2016 with a cost of Rs 70 crore. The minister visited the Food Park on Monday.

---

Nageswara Rao reviewed the progress of works and the facilities that were required. Speaking on the occasion he informed that the construction of basic facilities, cold storage and administrative building was complete and issues related to electricity supply would be addressed.

Cashew and mango processors have arrived and steps should be taken to process all crops and vegetables soon. Farmers and officials should know which crop was in demand in which country, where the market was good and take steps to export there, he suggested.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy signed agreements with some food processing companies. An agreement with Godrej Company was signed and steps have been taken to manufacture palm oil in the district without the need to import palm oil seeds.

LED screens would be installed in 12, 500 Rythu Vedikas in the State. Programmes would be conducted for farmers to interact with agricultural scientists to get information and advice on crop yield, marketing and get their doubts cleared, Nageswara Rao informed.

Earlier in the day he visited Aswaraopet oil palm factory and a power generation unit, the construction of which was started during the BRS regime at a cost of Rs 30 crore in Kothagudem district.

The power unit aims to cater to the needs of the factory even if its capacity was increased to 90 tonnes from the existing 60 tonnes. Officials and agencies were told to complete the power unit by May-June. Aswaraopet would be developed as a horticulture hub, the minister said.