The government is considering to establish small food clusters to boost processing level of agri products for the benefits of farmers, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said today.
Each small food cluster would focus on processing of fruits and vegetables grown in its surrounding region.
"... There is a view that there should be small food clusters focusing on processing one or two agriculture commodities depending upon that specific region. These clusters can have more flexibility so we are considering that," Badal said on the sidelines of an event organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation.
Earlier addressing the event, the Minister emphasised on the role of women in the society and said
In March last year, the government had allocated 17 mega food parks by allocating 10 such parks to private companies including Adani Group and Ruchi Soya and the remaining seven projects to state government PSUs.
In the last 19 months, five new Mega Food Parks have been operationalised while during the UPA term only two parks were operationalised, she had said.
Yesterday, the Badal had said that the processing of fruit and vegetables will double with the expected rise in foreign fund inflows after government in this year's budget allowed 100 per cent FDI in marketing of food products manufactured in India.
She also mentioned that this step will lead to creation of 'swadeshi' (local) infrastructure with 'videshi' money (foreign investment).
She added this will help farmers get remunerative prices for their produce, and adoption of modern agricultural practices required for producing agricultural produce on a large scale to meet the requirements of organised marketing.
