Doaba on threshold of becoming maize processing hub

PunjabPost, Phagwara, Punjab, Amritsar, Jalandhar, GuruNanak, AmarinderSingh, Universities, LPU, Doaba,maize processing hub, industrialization
PunjabPost, Phagwara, Punjab, Amritsar, Jalandhar, GuruNanak, AmarinderSingh, Universities, LPU, Doaba,maize processing hub, industrialization

JASWANT SINGH GANDAM / RAMAN NEHRA
India Post news Service

PHAGWARA: Owing to the efforts of the Punjab government to boost industrialization in the state, the Doaba region would soon emerge as the maize processing hub of the state as the Sukhjit Mega Food Park is all set to become operational by the end of the current fiscal, an official press note said.

The park, having the capacity of processing more than two lakh tonnes of maize annually, is being set up over 55 acres of land at village Rehana Jattan near Phagwara by Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals, which is the oldest agro food processing industry in the state operating since 1943.

The park, coming up on scientific lines, is being equipped with state-of-the-art machinery for processing 600 tonnes of maize daily.

The park aims at creating a huge demand for maize, a very low water intensive crop that would help in breaking the wheat-paddy cycle in the state and thereby checking the depletion of water table on one hand and saving the environment by checking pollution caused through paddy stubble burning on the other.

Giving details, director of Park Bhavdeep Sardana, accompanied by Dhiraj Sardana, said that the project was in the advanced stage of commissioning and is expected to commence its operations by the last quarter of the current financial year.

He said that besides creating affordable infrastructure for the food processing industry, the park would also act as a catalyst for facilitating direct procurement of various crops, including perishables, from farmers to benefit them.

Sardana said that the park would also have a state-of-the-art cold chain to enhance the shelf life of perishable produce of farmers and three ultra modern silos with storage capacity of around 60,000 tonnes to store the produce of farmers and added that three primary procurement centres are being set up at village Mahuwal in Jalandhar, Dheron in Hoshiarpur and Ballan Manjhpur in Amritsar for facilitating the farmers to sell their produce.

Hailing the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for creating an investor-friendly environment in the state, the entrepreneur said that due to path breaking initiatives taken by the state government, the state is witnessing tremendous industrial growth,. He added that with the constant support of Punjab government, the smooth execution of this project has been possible.

Sardana said that it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction for industrialists that the Punjab government was giving red carpet welcome to them by giving them extra benefits and top priority for setting up their ventures in the state.

Describing the Punjab government as progressive, dynamic and transparent thrusting on the comprehensive growth of the state, the industrialist said that the captains of Industry were very happy as this government has turned out to be their partners in growth and prosperity.

He said that the pro-active industrial policy of the state government coupled with industry-friendly environment has resulted in hurdle free permissions and operations for industrialists.

Sardana said that the net result was that Punjab’s economy has been put on the orbit of high growth trajectory and the state is witnessing tremendous growth in industrial sector.

Lauding the state government for organizing the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit 2019 in Mohali December 5-6, the entrepreneur hoped that the summit would be a milestone in exploring the tremendous business potential in the state, besides creating synergy between Punjab and investors.