Food processing may come under single authority

The central government is exploring the possibility of formulating an integrated food law under a single unified authority.

Addressing the inaugural session of Agro-India 2004 organised by FICCI (eastern region), Subodh Kant Sahay, minister for food processing industries, said that the food and adulteration laws were under more than seven ministries and the government was keen on integrating them.

He said in European countries, there was a single code law and the government was planning to do the same in India.

Among the other initiatives the government was also considering amendment to the Mandi Act.

Chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya urged the private sector to come forward and invest in the sector. He said no barrier existed at present between government and private sector.

"The government wants to join hands with the private sector" said Bhattacharya.

He admitted that one of the most important issues facing the industry in West Bengal was lack of market mechanism and the only way out of the problem was to improve agri-marketing infrastructure.

In this regard, he sought help from the central government. The state government was planning a food park in Malda.

West Bengal produced 60 per cent of India's jute and mesta, 27 per cent of tea, 28 per cent of potato, 27 per cent of pineapple and 17 per cent of rice.

Bhattacharya said a lot of products were wasted every year simply due to inadequate storage capacity.

C K Dhanuka, chairman of the FICCI eastern regional chapter, said that a report of McKinsey & Co. had pointed out West Bengal was one of the three front running states in India in the food processing and agro-processing sector.

In 2003-04, West Bengal received 155 proposals worth Rs 327 crore in food processing sector alone.

"Keventer, ITC and several others have set up successful ventures in the state" said Dhanuka.