The All India Food Processors ‘Association (AIFPA) has requested the state governments to promote the  Food Processing industry (FPI) by giving them interest subsidy, capital subsidy or any support that they can give for value addition opportunity to the agriculture produce.

Talking to KNN, the AIFPA President, Sagar Kurade said that 75 per cent of the food processing industry is totally dependent on the SMEs. To give a boost to them, the food processing ministry has announced that they will come up with a separate policy.

“Every state wants to promote the Food Processing Industry. I request all the states to give interest subsidy, capital subsidy or any support they can give for value addition opportunity to the agriculture produce should be given,” he said.

Elaborating the facts, the AIFPA President said that Indian food consumption is of USD 250 billion and it is growing by five per cent every year. The whole country is dependent on this sector only. Whatever you eat on the table that is processed whether it is wheat, rice or pulses. Food processing is an important aspect of the Indian economy.

“If we really need to develop India then food processing industry has to grow,” Kurade said.

When asked about the issues faced by the FPI, he said that food industry’s current issues are related to ease of doing business. Citing an example he said that an SME unit has to seek as many as 16 approvals for running.

“Industry is also working with FSSAI on regulatory issues. The new team of the FSSAI is addressing a lot of the concerns related to food processing industry,” he added.

However, focussing on one particular issue, Kurade said that there is a need to increase awareness amongst the farmers about the usage of pesticides and fertilizers. Food processing sector requires minimum use of pesticides.

“Awareness of farmers in terms of increasing the knowledge that minimum use of pesticide can maximize their productivity can boost the sector,” he said. 

Kurade also emphasized that there is a huge potential for organic sector in the country. “There are huge opportunities in the organic sector in India, but the only problem is cost,” he said. (KNN Bureau)