PRAN-RFL Group’s Barind (Varendra) Industrial Park at Godagari, Rajshahi, is collecting agro-based products including mango, tomato, olive and guava, based on season, from the local farmers and making pulp in the park. The park is now almost ready to collect pineapple, watermelon, cucumber and aloe-vera for pulping.
Besides, the country’s leading conglomerate has the plan to produce frozen foods and noodles in the park soon if get the necessary support from the concerned departments of the government. The park will create 4,000 t0o 5,000 jobs, of which 95 per cent job holders will be local, once its started in the full swing.
Kamruzzaman Kamal, Director (Marketing) at PRAN-RFL Group, said this on Tuesday at a view exchange meeting with Rajshahi journalists held at the conference room of the park.
He said, “Agricultural extension and socio-economic development of the farmers are the key purposes of PRAN Group. The group has chosen Godagari to establish the park so that farmers of Rajshahi area can able to sell their products at low transport cost without any middleman. We are now collecting mango, tomato, olive and also producing compost fertilizer. Farmers and common people are now getting benefits from our initiatives because they are now able to supply and sell their products to PRAN and getting jobs in this park.”
He also added, “PRAN-RFL Group gives the highest importance to environment-related issues apart from manufacturing quality products, creating huge employment and contributing to socio-economic development in terms of setting up its factories and operations. We have applied for a gas connection at the factory. If we get the necessary support from the concerned departments of the government, we have a plan to produce frozen foods and noodles. At present, around 1,500 people work in the park. It will create huge employment once the new plant starts production.”
Kamruzzaman Kamal said, “PRAN-RFL products are now being exported to 141 countries across the world. We have established the factory here considering the availability of raw materials. If the congenial environment for investment including a gas connection, is available, some other companies will also show interest to set up factories here which will have huge socio-economic development in the area.”
Sarowar Hossain, Deputy General Manager at Barind Industrial Park, said, “Before 2018, tomato gets damaged in the land due to low price. But the situation has been changed after establishing our factory. Tomato cultivation is now increasing day by day because farmers are getting a fair price.”
He also added, “We give top priority on raw materials so that customers can get standard products. The pulp is being produced in the plant following aseptic technology. This factory is completely environment-friendly as we produce organic fertilizer and energy from the wastages. There is an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for liquid wastage.”
Touhiduzzaman, Senior Manager (Public Relations) and Maksud-ul-Islam-Joarder, Deputy Manager and high officials of PRAN-RFL Group, were also present at the programme. After the view exchange meeting, the journalists visited different parts of the park. PRAN-RFL Group has set up the park at Amanatpur of Gadagari in 2017 on 34 acres of land.