8 mega food parks to come up in AP

​Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to set up eight mega food processing parks with an aim of transforming the development topography of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts. These Rayalaseema districts and North Andhra districts are economically backward in the state and needs the support to achieve the economic development. In this backdrop, the government is planning to set up eight mega food parks in these districts.

Andhra Pradesh is famous for abundant production of fruits, aqua products and agro-based products. In order to utilise these products and to generate employment, the government has decided to promote food processing industries. Five of the proposed food processing parks will come up in the coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari.

Three more parks are being planned in the Rayalaseema districts of Chittoor, Kurnool and Anantapur. This information was given by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, while presenting the budget for 2017-18 in Velagapudi on Wednesday.

The Finance Minister said agriculture and allied sectors have shown a phenomenal growth of 14.03 per cent during the financial year 2016-17 and strengthened the economy. He said Fisheries recorded growth of 30.09 per cent, Livestock registered growth of 12.18 per cent and horticulture with 16.79 per cent in 2016-17.