Chirag Paswan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, on Friday inaugurated a Food Processing Incubation Centre at Tezpur University with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship and value addition in the food processing sector.
The incubation centre has been set up under the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries with a grant-in-aid of ₹275 lakh.
Developed by the university’s Department of Food Engineering and Technology, the facility is designed to encourage innovation, facilitate technology adoption and support the growth of small-scale food processing enterprises.
The Union minister inaugurated the centre by unveiling the foundation plaque and cutting the ribbon. He later interacted with PMFME beneficiaries, start-up representatives, faculty members and other stakeholders at the facility.
A formal programme was later held at the Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha Auditorium on the university campus. The event was attended by Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Amarendra Kumar Das, Managing Director of the Assam Industrial Development Corporation Meghna Nidhi Dahal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries D. Praveenand Prithiraj Rabha, among other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Paswan encouraged young people and aspiring entrepreneurs to explore opportunities in the food processing sector, describing it as a promising field for innovation and business. He said that with the growing demand for processed and packaged food products, there is considerable potential for start-ups and technology-driven ventures in areas such as food preservation, packaging, product development and supply chain management.
Highlighting Assam’s agricultural potential, the Union minister noted that the state produces fruits, vegetables, spices and other agricultural products in abundance, but much of it still lacks adequate value addition and organised processing. He emphasised that incubation centres such as the one at Tezpur University can provide entrepreneurs with technical support, training, infrastructure and mentorship.
Paswan expressed hope that the facility would benefit not only the university but also the wider agricultural and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Assam by supporting farmers, start-ups and local enterprises, creating employment opportunities and strengthening rural development.
Prof. Amarendra Kumar Das also highlighted the importance of converting agricultural produce into value-added products, stating that Food Engineering and Technology offers vast opportunities for innovation and economic growth in agrarian regions such as Assam. He further recalled that institutions like Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Tezpur University emerged from the aspirations of the Assam Movement, reflecting the region’s development goals.
The incubation centre has been equipped with modern processing lines for fruit juice, grain processing, bakery products, noodles and pasta, as well as spices. It will support entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), start-ups and students through training programmes, technology transfer and a pay-and-use facility for pilot production and small-scale manufacturing.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Sazzad Alam, Additional Secretary of the Government of Assam. The initiative is expected to strengthen the micro food processing ecosystem and open up new opportunities for entrepreneurship and value addition to agricultural produce in the region.
