Bangalore: Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) at its board meeting here in Bangalore today has approved a infrastructure development proposal of HPMC and agreed to fund installation of a high tech Tetrapak machine at HPMC’s fruit processing plant in Parwanoo, Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Prakash Thakur, Director APEDA disclosed.
Purchase and installation of the new packaging machine involves an investment of Rs 355.15 lakhs that will totally be borne by APEDA Authority.
The new Tetra Brick Aseptic (TBA-19 Model) machine is expected to enhance the installed capacity at HPMC’s Parwanoo plant by about 30% because of its higher output capacity.
The older TBA -9 machine at the HPMC Parwanoo plant was set up in 2005 has a capacity of pack 6000 packs of 200ml/hour and the machine is expected to complete its life by 2013.
The new TBA-19 machine will help HPMC to replace existing equipment with an upgraded version and avoid sudden disruption of activity at the plant later.
HPMC’s fruit processing plant at Parwanoo has a yearly processing capacity of 18,000 Metric Tons of apple juice concentrate.
The HPMC proposal was examined by APEDA’s technical committee and recommended its approval on 16th June. APEDA Authority today has approved the project.
Under Infrastructure Development Scheme for Export Promotion APEDA has already sanctioned Rs 10.038 Cr to HPMC for setting up two Controlled Atmosphere stores in Himachal Pradesh.
APEDA has also sanctioned Rs 12 crore for upgrading and equipping 5 HPMC packaging houses with latest technology of grading and packaging lines.
APEDA’s keen interest in upgrading agriculture and horticulture infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh has been possible because of the active interest shown by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Mr Anand Sharma, said Thakur.
APEDA is the Nodal Agency for promotion of organic produce in India. It is mandated with promoting fruit and vegetable based industries for export purposes and does provide financial assistance for meeting global standards. It also undertakes surveys and feasibility studies.
