New Delhi, Mar 27 (KNN) To ensure food supply across the country amid Coronavirus outbreak followed by lockdown till April 14, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Secretary Pushpa Subrahmanyam has written to Chief Secretaries of all states regarding need for continued functioning of food industry and their suppliers.

While enclosing a list of essential food products and their inputs in the letter, Subrahmanyam, asserted that ''Uninterrupted manufacturing of these food products is critical for maintaining supply chain and availability of food to the population.''

''Availability of raw materials, packaging materials, movement of trucks carrying them, functioning of their warehouses and cold storages and ability of workers to come and work in the factories and warehouses needs to be ensured for maintaining food supply chain for the general population,'' she added.

MoFPI Secretary further asked Chief Secretaries to instruct District Collectors, Police and Transport officials to ensure uninterrupted supply of food.

''I request you to instruct District Collectors, Police and Transport officials to enable continued functioning of food products factories, movement of their products and inputs/raw materials and allowing workers to attend these factories,'' the letter read further.

She further requested them to nominate a Nodal Officer at the State level with whom MoFPI and the industry could raise instances of supply chain disruptions for effective resolution on the field.