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Govt to support food entrepreneurs in N-E, states Teli at FICCI meet
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Friday, 30 August, 2019, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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The food processing sector is one of the most promising sectors in our country with a high potential to grow in the future, and the government invites industry and entrepreneurs to invest in the North-Eastern states. This was stated was Rameshwar Teli, minister of state for food processing industries, at FICCI Foodworld India 2019, organised by FICCI, and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in Mumbai on Thursday.
He added, “Our budget is of Rs 1,400 crore, and MoFPI will assist industrialists and young entrepreneurs to set up food processing industry in the country especially in the hilly terrains.”
“The government will assist all the investors and industrialist to set up units in these states, and especially in North-East and Jammu and Kashmir,” Teli said.
While highlighting the views on offerings by the Odisha government in the food processing sector, Sanjeev Chopra, principal secretary, department of industries, Government of Odisha, said, “The food processing sector is identified as one of the priority sectors in Odisha and has immense potential under the governance of the state government. The Odisha government has taken various measures to maintain the cost of doing business and improve infrastructure in the state.”
Siraj Hussain, former secretary, ministry of agriculture and MoFPI, Government of India, shared his concerns faced by the sector.
He said, “Due to the fall in prices the farmers suffered. There is an increase in food wastage impacted the growth of the industry. We hope there are reforms that will increase the development in the food processing infrastructure, along with driving investment in the rural agriculture.”
Reema Prakash, joint secretary, MoFPI, said, “The Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojna which will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country, but will also help in providing better returns to farmers and is a big step towards doubling of farmers’ incomes, creating huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, reducing the wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.”
Hemant Malik, chair, FICCI Food Processing Committee, and chief executive officer, food division, ITC Ltd, said, “India has moved from a food scarce to a food surplus nation and the industry is on track in terms of growth and profitability.”
“The food processing sector has immense potential for value addition and development, as it leads and synergises the two pillars of economy, i.e., industry and agriculture,” he added.
“Through various government initiatives and reforms have resolved a lot of the hurdles faced by the industry,” Malik said.
Mohit Anand, co-chair, FICCI Food Processing Committee, and managing director, Kellogg’s India, said that the food processing sector had the potential of becoming a Rs 500-billion sector, which will not only focus on improving farmers’ incomes, but also improve the employment and infrastructure and stay aligned with the country’s Nutrition and Health Agenda.
A FICCI Centre of Excellence on Nutrition was also launched at the occasion. Its objective will be to create greater awareness amongst stakeholders on the different aspects of nutrition and reformulation.
The day-long conference which focussed on the future of the food processing sector was attended by delegates across the sector.
The conference was a platform for the industry to discuss the innovation that could drive the industry and initiatives to attract investment in the sector.
It also discussed the efforts taken to reduce the wastage and bring in sustainable measures to boost the food processing sector.
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