NASHIK: The state industries department feels the 15 proposed units at Vinchur 's Food Processing Park will boost contract farming in the district.Nashik is known for producing onion, tomatoes and fruits at large and these units will involve farmers into contract farming in order to meet their demand. The state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 15 industries with a total investment of Rs 950 crore to set up food processing industries at Vinchur.These food processing industries will process tomatoes, onions, pomegranates and other agro produce. According to sources from industrial department, these proposed food processing units are expected to involve over 1 lakh farmers into contract farming, ensuring they get right prices for the agro produce.Moreover, this will also generate over 5,400 jobs. "We are setting up a food processing unit at Vinchur and will enter into an agreement with close to 30,000 farmers to meet our requirement of farm produce," said an official from Siva Sai Export.According to the official, the unit will set up a dehydration plant for onions and other vegetables at an investment of Rs 100 crore that will generate 1,600 direct and indirect jobs and involve close to 40,000 farmers for contract farming."We are setting up a plant to dehydrate onions, garlic, carrot and beetroot with total processing capacity of 40,000 tonne. We will meet the requirement through contract farming from the farmers in the district. We will involve around 40,000 farmers into contract farming," said sources from another food processing company that has signed MoU with the state government to set up food processing unit at food processing park at Vinchur.The state government had set up Godavari Wine Park at Vinchur in 2001 to promote wine industry. Of the total 133 hectare, the wine park was developed on 83 hectare. But only five-six wineries became operational there. Following poor response from wineries, the industries had demanded that the state industries department to allow food processing units on the remaining 50 hectare of land.After continuous follow ups by the local industrial fraternity, state industry minister Subhash Desai directed MIDC to allow food processing units in the wine park.Accordingly, the MIDC gave its approval in September last year for allowing industries to set up food processing units in Godavari Wine Park.Of 50 hectare earmarked for food processing zone, 20 hectare would be used to make roads, other facilities and amenities, while remaining 30 hectare are to be used for commercial operations by the food processing units.

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