Tezpur, March 13, 2026 (Friday): Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, on Friday, March 13, 2026, inaugurated a Food Processing Incubation Centre at Tezpur University, established under the Prime Minister Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The facility, developed by the Department of Food Engineering and Technology with a grant-in-aid of ₹2.75 crore, aims to promote entrepreneurship, technology adoption, and value addition in the food processing sector.
The Union Minister inaugurated the centre by unveiling the inauguration stone and cutting the ribbon, and later interacted with PMFME beneficiaries, start-up representatives, faculty members and other stakeholders at the incubation facility.
A formal function was subsequently held at the Kalaguru Bishnuprasad Rabha (KBR) Auditorium of the university. The programme was attended by Prof. Amarendra Kumar Das, Vice Chancellor (Acting) of Tezpur University; Meghna Nidhi Dahal, Managing Director of Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC); D. Praveen, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries; and Tezpur MLA Prithiraj Rabha, among other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Paswan encouraged young people and aspiring entrepreneurs to consider the food processing sector as a promising avenue for innovation and enterprise. With the growing demand for processed and packaged food products, there is significant scope for start-ups, small businesses, and technology-driven ventures in areas such as food preservation, packaging, product development, and supply chain management.
Referring to the regional context, he noted that Assam possesses a rich agricultural heritage, with abundant production of fruits, vegetables, spices, and other farm products. However, much of this produce still lacks adequate value addition and organised processing. In this regard, he emphasised that food processing incubation centres can play an important role in providing technical support, training, infrastructure, and mentorship to entrepreneurs.
The Minister expressed hope that such incubation facilities would benefit not only the university or a limited group of entrepreneurs but the entire state of Assam. By supporting farmers, start-ups, and local enterprises, these centres can help create employment opportunities, promote rural development, and strengthen the agricultural economy of the region.
Prof. Amarendra Kumar Das, Vice Chancellor (Acting) highlighted the importance of converting agricultural products into value-added products. He noted that Food Engineering and Technology has enormous potential for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development, especially in an agrarian region like Assam.
Recalling history, he mentioned that both IIT Guwahati and Tezpur University emerged from the aspirations of the Assam Movement, symbolising the region’s development goals.
The incubation centre is equipped with modern processing lines for fruit juice, grain processing, bakery products, noodles and pasta, and spices, and 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, Government of Assam. The initiative is expected to strengthen the micro food processing ecosystem and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship and value addition to agricultural produce in the region.
