New Delhi, Feb 2 (KNN) Responding to the complains from the industry that the Budget is just agriculture-focussed, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal clarified that the budget is focused on agriculture and infrastructure which in turn would further boost all sectors of the industry and  not just the food processing sector.

Replying to a question from KNN, she said the international companies which will come through foreign direct investment (FDI) will purchase the raw materials from the local industries.

The rural areas have huge opportunities to contribute to the economy and their income needs to be increased in order to improve their purchasing power, she added.

Pressing on the need to “think out of the league”, she said that the measures would benefit the industry at large.

She praised the budget by saying that whether farmer or industry, everyone is going to be benefitted from the budget.

Processing of fruit and vegetables will double with the expected rise in foreign fund inflows Badal said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, in his Budget Speech on February 29, said, "Food processing industry and trade should be more efficient. Hundred per cent FDI will be allowed through the FIPB route in the marketing of food products produced and manufactured in India.”

"This will benefit farmers, give impetus to the food processing industry and create vast employment opportunities," he added. (KNN Bureau)