Role of education, skill development, crucial for food processing industry
Updated: Nov 20, 2014 02:27:14pm
New Delhi, Nov 20 (KNN) The Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal has emphasized the crucial role of education and skill development in the future of the food processing industry which is expected to play a catalytic role in the growth story of India.
Speaking at a meeting of the Food Processing Education Council (FPEC) held yesterday, she emphasized the need for focused intervention at different parts of the food value chain from the farm gate to the consumer, as per an official release.
According to the minister, the ministry will soon put in place the National Food Processing Policy that will become a mechanism for development of the entire food processing sector in India. In this regard, she called upon all the states, stakeholders, and industry to be part of this national initiative in framing the National Food Processing Policy.
The food processing sector, according to the minister needs transition from a licence/approval regime to a registration regime so that government clearances do not hold up the growth of the sector.
Hailing the initiatives taken by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab in the field of food processing, she asked all states to ensure that food processing projects are cleared within the stipulated timeframe.
She also called upon all the States to ensure that a single-window clearance system is brought in the entire country, asking them to be proactive towards food processing as the sector has the potential to become a growth engine of agriculture.
Significantly, a fund of Rs 2000 crore has already been set up under NABARD to make affordable credit available to the agro-processing units, the minister informed.
Also, a Food Map has been uploaded on the website of the ministry and Member States have been asked to add regional and local information to it.
With regard to the Make in India initiative, the Minister opined that “Make in India growth story cannot be written without the chapter of Food Processing”.
During the meeting, industry experts gave suggestions to bring in ‘ease’ of doing business in India, highlighting the number of central/state/local government’s regulations that delay projects. Other issues discussed were the tax holiday status to food processing, and developing technology for healthy food in the country.
One of the suggestions made by the experts was the need to include courses on food processing, nutrition and food safety in school curriculum. (KNN/ES)
Speaking at a meeting of the Food Processing Education Council (FPEC) held yesterday, she emphasized the need for focused intervention at different parts of the food value chain from the farm gate to the consumer, as per an official release.
According to the minister, the ministry will soon put in place the National Food Processing Policy that will become a mechanism for development of the entire food processing sector in India. In this regard, she called upon all the states, stakeholders, and industry to be part of this national initiative in framing the National Food Processing Policy.
The food processing sector, according to the minister needs transition from a licence/approval regime to a registration regime so that government clearances do not hold up the growth of the sector.
Hailing the initiatives taken by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab in the field of food processing, she asked all states to ensure that food processing projects are cleared within the stipulated timeframe.
She also called upon all the States to ensure that a single-window clearance system is brought in the entire country, asking them to be proactive towards food processing as the sector has the potential to become a growth engine of agriculture.
Significantly, a fund of Rs 2000 crore has already been set up under NABARD to make affordable credit available to the agro-processing units, the minister informed.
Also, a Food Map has been uploaded on the website of the ministry and Member States have been asked to add regional and local information to it.
With regard to the Make in India initiative, the Minister opined that “Make in India growth story cannot be written without the chapter of Food Processing”.
During the meeting, industry experts gave suggestions to bring in ‘ease’ of doing business in India, highlighting the number of central/state/local government’s regulations that delay projects. Other issues discussed were the tax holiday status to food processing, and developing technology for healthy food in the country.
One of the suggestions made by the experts was the need to include courses on food processing, nutrition and food safety in school curriculum. (KNN/ES)
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