Nashik attracts Rs 500 crore maize-processing project; farmers to get assured market
Sukhjit Starch and Chemicals will invest ₹500 crore to establish a maize-processing plant in Maharashtra’s Yeola, processing 1,200 tonnes daily. The project is expected to create 200 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs while generating annual demand for 3.5 lakh tonnes of maize.
In a major boost to Nashik’s agro-processing sector, Punjab-based Sukhjit Starch and Chemicals Ltd will invest Rs 500 crore to set up a maize-processing plant at the MIDC estate in Yeola, a project expected to generate 200 direct jobs and around 3,000 indirect employment opportunities.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra industries department in Mumbai on Tuesday in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, industries minister Uday Samant, cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, industries department principal secretary P Anbalagan and former MP Sameer Bhujbal. State gov has offered the project mega-project status.
The proposed facility will process 1,200 tonnes of maize a day and manufacture starch and other value-added maize products. The company plans to complete the project within 12 to 15 months.
According to the project proposal, the plant will create an annual demand of about 3.5 lakh tonnes of maize in its first phase, providing a large and stable market for farmers across Nashik and neighbouring districts.
In a post on X, Fadnavis said he presided over the signing and exchange of the MoU between the state industries department and Sukhjit Starch and Chemicals Ltd at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. He said the project would generate around 200 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs.
In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the company said it had signed an MoU for a state-of-the-art maize-processing unit with a grinding capacity of 1,200 tonnes per day for producing maize starch and its derivatives. The company said the project involved a capital expenditure of around Rs 500 crore and was aimed at expanding its production capacity and strengthening its market presence.
The company, however, said further steps towards establishing the facility would depend on state govt providing the required infrastructure and timelines.
As part of the proposal, Sukhjit Starch has sought around 150 acres of land, 5 million litres per day of treated water, a 6MW power connection and road connectivity support. The industries department has issued an offer letter proposing inclusion of the investment under the mega-project category.
Manish Rawal, vice-president of the Nashik Industries and Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA), welcomed the project. “The project will help boost maize cultivation in the region by assuring long-term procurement and better price realisation for farmers, while strengthening Nashik’s food-processing ecosystem and encouraging the growth of allied industries,” he said.
Officials said the investment aligns with state’s push to attract food-processing industries and promote rural industrialisation through value-added agricultural projects. Once operational, the unit is expected to contribute to state revenues and strengthen Nashik’s position as an emerging hub for maize-based food processing.
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Source : The Times of India
