The agro-climatic conditions of Mizoram is conducive to agricultural and horticultural crops. As such, a strong and effective food processing sector should play a significant supportive role. The total production of fruits, vegetables and spices will be increasing year by year as the number of farmers are weaning away from jhum cultivation and are taking up diversification towards cash-crops.

 Food processing industry would help in diversification and commercialization of agriculture and horticulture and lead to value addition.  It would result in employment generation in rural areas thereby providing income revenue and potential export prospects.  Above all it would help in harnessing and exploiting local resources.

 IMPORTANCE OF FOOD PROCESSING UNIT IN MIZORAM:

­        Mizoram accounts for about 12 percent of the total output of fruits in the North-East.

­        Total area now under Horticulture (38,000 hectares) is hardly a fraction of the total potential area (cultivable) for horticulture (6,31,000 Ha).

­        There is significant production of Orange (28,000 TPA), Banana (15,000 TPA), Pineapple (7,000 TPA), Passion fruit (4000 TPA).  Besides Lemon, Papaya, Hatkora and a host of other fruits are grown in the State.

­        Very importantly, the per hectare yields of fruit crops in Mizoram are significantly lower and with better inputs, can be pushed up by 50 percent.

 EXISTING FOOD PROCESSING UNITS : 

 The existing Food Processing unit in the State of Mizoram are as follows :

 (1)      Food Processing Plant, Sairang, Aizawl:  This plant was commissioned in August 1994 with the following rated capacities for the product-mix.

 Till date, the actual installed capacity is reported to be 460 TPA while the capacity utilization as in September, 1998 stands at 60%.  Mostly Pineapple is processed here.

 (2)      Fruit Juice Concentrate Plant, Chhingchhip:  This plant located also at Aizawl district was commissioned in May 1998.  The rated capacities are –

 The present production is 600 TPA concentrate & 800 TPA single strength juice (both in terms of output).

 Importantly, fruit juice concentrate commands an encouraging market both within and outside the country and thus the plant offers significant potential in terms of quantum and technology up gradations.

 POTENTIAL FOR LARGE SCALE FRUIT PROCESSING UNIT :

 The primary objective will be to convert fruits, vegetables and spices into value-added products to enable marketing the produce with reasonable profit for the farmer.  The produce will be collected by the village level and district level cooperatives and sent to the processing unit at state level for conversion and marketing the products.  The processing unit will be entrusted to a reputed private enterprise having marketing facilities within and outside the country. 

 There are potential  to produce the following kinds of products from Mizoram:

 Fruit products: Juice (RTS), squash, jam, jelly, fruit toffee or fruit bar, snack fruits, juice concentrate, fruit pulp, dried fruits.

Vegetable products: Dried vegetable, canned vegetable, mixed pickle, tapioca and potato chips, sago and starch.

Spice products: Spice oil, spice oleoresin.

Weaning foods for babies and natural colours from plant materials.

Production capacity : The factory will have a total annual capacity in 2001-2002 as given below.

The economic analysis of the total production and expected income from the unit is as follows:

  (All in tonnes/Year and Rs. In lakh)

Mizoram invites prospective entrepreneurs and investors to come forward for setting up fruit processing plants in Mizoram