'Food processing sector can grow at 40-50 per cent'

The food processing industry has the potential to grow at 40-50 per cent annually on the back of industry standardisation and mechanisation, a top government official said today.
"India should develop its traditional food items under global standardisation and mechanise them. At the same time, the country should also develop its own brands with global presence and standards," Commerce Secretary Amitabh Kant said here.
He was speaking at the 'Make in India' conclave organised by National Institute of Food technology entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) under the aegis of the Food Processing Ministry.
"...This is the time to process food in India and the food processing sector can grow at 40-50 per cent per year and this industry could be the star of Make in India programme," Kant said.

He added that Indian food products have the potential to reach global markets, but there is a need to standardise them.
"Our food products have the potential to reach the global markets. And to reach there we need to have global standards and global values, especially of cleanliness and hygiene," Kant added.

Speaking at the same event, Food Processing Secretary Ranglal Jamuda said, "With the processing of food, farmers will get an assured market and better price for their produce... The food prices will not grow... And unemployed youth could get jobs."
Jamuda added that at present the food processing capacity is at a nascent stage and a huge quantity of food produced by farmers is wasted at various levels.

In his address, NIFTEM V-C Ajit Kumar spoke about the institute launching a 'Make In India' project for standardisation and hygienic mass production of traditional Indian food.