The concept of Mega Food Parks was introduced by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in India to boost the food processing sector and address challenges faced by the industry.

The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector. The Mega Food Park Scheme is based on “Cluster” approach and envisages creation of state of art support infrastructure in a well-defined agri / horticultural zone for setting up of modern food processing units in the industrial plots provided in the park with well-established supply chain. Mega food park typically consist of supply chain infrastructure including collection centers, primary processing centers, central processing centers, cold chain and around 24-25 fully developed plots for entrepreneurs to set up food processing units.

The Mega Food Park project is implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is a Body Corporate registered under the Companies Act.

Here's an overview of the key features and components of Mega Food Parks:

Location: Mega Food Parks are strategically located in regions with a high concentration of agricultural and horticultural produce. This ensures easy access to raw materials for food processing units within the park.

Infrastructure: The parks are equipped with modern infrastructure, including processing units, cold storage facilities, warehouses, packaging units, and quality control laboratories. This shared infrastructure helps reduce costs for individual businesses and promotes efficiency.

Common Facilities: Mega Food Parks provide common facilities such as testing laboratories, quality control facilities, effluent treatment plants, and logistics support. These shared resources contribute to the overall growth of the food processing industry.

Farmers' and Producers' Zone: A crucial component of Mega Food Parks is the inclusion of a Farmers' and Producers' Zone. This zone provides a platform for farmers to directly link with processors and markets, eliminating intermediaries and ensuring fair returns to the producers.

Financial Assistance: The government may provide financial assistance and incentives to encourage the establishment of food processing units within Mega Food Parks. This can include subsidies, tax benefits, and grants.

Employment Generation: The development of Mega Food Parks contributes to employment generation in the region, both directly and indirectly. Job opportunities are created in processing units, logistics, maintenance, and other associated sectors.

Market Access: By providing a centralized location for food processing activities, Mega Food Parks help businesses access domestic and international markets more effectively.

Quality Assurance: The presence of quality control laboratories and standardized processing facilities in Mega Food Parks ensures that the processed food meets national and international quality standards.