The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a collaboration involving Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL), the World Bank, and Innova Agri Park, a Bharat Biotech subsidiary, to develop a financial model for a fruit-based processing unit near Noida International Airport's cargo hub, as reported by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida).
The hub aims to support the export of tinned fruits and juices, aiding farmers from Jewar and adjacent districts by providing market access. Due to the necessity of a gamma radiation facility for cleaning and preservation, the processing unit will not be located within airport premises.
Arun Vir Singh, CEO of Yeida and NIAL, stated, "Yeida has got adequate land available in Sector 22E, and we have suggested to the state government that we will give it to them. This project has the potential to benefit farmers who grow fruits including mangos and guavas."
Fruits will undergo cleaning and preparation at the gamma radiation center before being processed and exported via a cold chain system. The World Bank is set to provide $40 million for establishing the facility, ensuring compliance with the export standards of the US and Europe.
A meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh included representatives from Innova Food Park, the World Bank, AISATS, NIA concessionaire YIAPL, and NIAL, focusing on creating a horticulture-based export hub. A financial model report is anticipated by month-end.
The integration of a cold chain system by AISATS will facilitate rapid export to international markets, offering local farmers in Bulandshahr, Meerut, Hapur, and Aligarh improved sales opportunities. Kripal Singh, a mango farmer, remarked on the potential for better crop prices once the plant is operational.
Source: Hindustan Times
