Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), the nodal agency for industrial development in Gujarat, is set to establish a new Agro Food Park in Chhapra Village, Rajkot. This initiative aims to strengthen the existing value chain of the state’s Agro and Food Processing sector and attract significant investment.

Gujarat has a total of 20 Agro production clusters, with products such as Banana, Potato, Finger Millet, Okra, and many others. The Agro Food Park has a prominent presence in Kutch and Saurashtra regions in districts like Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Dwarka. Rajkot holds a strong presence of food processing, agriculture-based and ancillary industries, along with prominent companies like Balaji Wafers, etc. in the nearby vicinity.

Project Overview and Location Advantages

The proposed industrial estate at Chhapra covers an area of 35 hectares. The location offers logistical benefits, which are crucial for the food processing industry. It boasts good road connectivity, being situated just 1 km from the State Highway (SH), 25 km away from the railway station, and 55 km away from Hirasar Airport, Rajkot. Furthermore, the proximity to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) provides efficient transport links. For international trade, the nearest major port, Kandla, is approximately 200 km away.

Proposed Core Infrastructure and Facilities

The planned infrastructure includes a comprehensive road network within the park, ensuring smooth operations. Essential utilities will be provided, such as a reliable potable water supply, consistent power supply, and a dedicated gas supply. The park will also feature an admin complex, a Common Facility Centre (CFC), and essential lighting through streetlights. To support the logistics of the agro-food industry, the park will include various storage facilities like warehouses and cold storage units. Additionally, a state-of-the-art laboratory will be established with facilities for testing, research, and development to ensure high standards and innovation within the sector.

Investment Potential

The Government of Gujarat has announced various schemes for food processing and other welfare schemes to attract investment, promote sustainable agro-food processing, and enhance the income of livelihood-dependent communities. The projects at Mudetha (Banaskantha) and Chhapra (Rajkot) are key parts of this strategy and are envisaged to collectively attract an investment of ₹500 crore. This investment is projected to generate approximately 30,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. The upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Rajkot on 8th and 9th January will serve as a dynamic platform to further cater to the entire food processing value chain, attract investments, and establish a collaborative ecosystem for the growth of the food processing industry in the Kutch and Rajkot districts.